What’s up in a Kharkiv bomb shelter gives you a glimpse into life in a bomb shelter, speaking with people as aircraft hurtles by and bombs detonate outside.
CONTENT WARNING – WAR, SOUNDS OF EXPLOSIVES, DEATH
The game begins with the sound of shells and missiles coming down, shrieking in the air. Without a thought, you’ll find yourself rushing for the door to get inside to some shelter. It immediately throws you into terror, but you can quickly find some sort of safety in this bomb shelter. People are milling around inside, and the general bustle of conversation fills the air. Someone is playing music. That hint of guitar brings an even greater calm, somehow. It’s not long before the sounds of explosions and air strikes drowns out anything else, though, filling the air with their terrifying promise of death. It’s a difficult experience to take, and far moreso in imaging the people suffering in this situation.
You can talk to people to distract yourself. Some of them simply talk about the price of fuel, and everything seems to almost feel normal for a moment. Others talk about loved ones who barely survived. How this all seems impossible. How they can’t stop watching the news. For others, this situation is exacerbating things that are already bad in their lives. When you’re being abused and neglected, how do you handle being trapped in a tiny room with that person at all times? What space can you find for any form of escape. It’s not only the bombs, but the press of the people around you. In ways, they comfort, but in others, they add to the gnawing panic and fear that thrum through you.
And you need some food. Will you step outside to get some? And if you do, will you live?
What’s up in a Kharkiv bomb shelter is brief, but no less overwhelming in the emotions it captures of this terrible suffering these people are going through. It’s something I feel should be experienced by people wishing to really understand the situation in Ukraine, but do be careful in taking this in.
What’s up in a Kharkiv bomb shelter is available now on itch.io.
