Operating Systems Are Creepy – Desktop Explorer Interview

·1 hr·5 clips

How do you design a puzzle game that feels like a real computer but doesn't let players accidentally delete everything and get stuck?

The episode is an interview with the three developers from Recurring Dream working on Desktop Explorer, a horror puzzle game that simulates using a retro Windows operating system. Host Amanda welcomes Rodolfo, Carlos, and Juan Pablo, who introduce their roles as co-studio heads and writer. The conversation begins with their nostalgic connections to Windows 95, 98, and XP, including childhood memories of bootleg games and early computer interactions. They explain how Desktop Explorer mimics an OS without building one, focusing on immersion through a functional file system and tools like a notepad. A key challenge discussed is balancing realistic computer simulation with accessible puzzle design to avoid player frustration. Juan Pablo details the horror elements, inspired by psychological themes and a personal scare involving internet static, rather than jump scares. The developers reveal inspirations like the hardcore puzzle 'Not Prawn', Outer Wilds, and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. They talk about PAX, where they displayed the game on an old computer from a museum, leading to highlights like player collaboration and someone solving a hidden ARG. Reception has grown through Discord, and the team reflects on pivotal moments, including job losses that fueled their focus on the game. The interview concludes with questions from listeners about future projects and a release window around late 2025 to early 2026.

As heard by us

A developer interview about retro interfaces, player paranoia, and games that make both feel unsettling.

Desktop Explorer brings DL Gaming Podcast into a new interview segment, using a retro-operating-system puzzle horror game to open a conversation about how games unsettle players.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a retro desktop, a puzzle game, and the prickly feeling that something on the screen may be noticing how you play.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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