The Mortuary Assistant combines body embalming with demon invasions
It’s pretty common to pick up a new job and have things take an unexpected twist. Of course, it’s usually something like having a chatty co-worker or needing to learn a new piece of software. In The Mortuary Assistant, I have to not only go about the business of getting bodies ready for burial, but I also have to ward off demons by surviving terrible visions and supernatural creatures. The Mortuary Assistant might be off the beaten path, but it’s found a warm welcome in the horror community thanks to its mix of corny and supernatural, all embalmed in a nice package.
The Mortuary Assistant starts with a heavy helping of cheese by warning the player that this game may lead to their home being occupied by hostile demons, and if that’s the case, they should consult with a paranormal investigator or a priest. I enjoy the game’s audacity; it not only informed me that playing the game might open a portal to hell, but also if that happens I’m completely on my own.
The narrative starts with an introduction to the protagonist, Rebecca, who has just picked up a new job as the titular mortuary assistant. Her grandma doesn’t approve and Raymond, the boss, seems kind of off… but it’s a competitive job market these days. Rebecca learns the proper way to get a body ready for burial, but a wrench is thrown in the works when it turns out that one of these corpses is possessed by a demon — and Rebecca is at risk of possession herself.
There are some clumsy controls that allow me to move through the funeral home, but functionally The Mortuary Assistant is a point-and-click adventure game. I have to go about my duties with the body, including draining cavities and hammering at the corpse’s gums. It’s grisly work, punctuated by the process
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