WHAT IS AFRAID OF MONSTERS?

A glimpse into the nightmare.

➤ OVERVIEW

Afraid of Monsters is a psychological horror first-person game created by Andreas Rönnberg (also known for Cry of Fear) and released in 2005 as a mod for Half-Life.
The game was developed almost entirely by Andreas himself, which gives it a raw, personal, and indie horror atmosphere.
In 2007, the Director’s Cut was released — a more polished version that introduced alternate endings, new enemies, weapons, and branching paths.

➤ ATMOSPHERE

The game immerses the player in a dense, disturbing world using minimal lighting, distorted reality, and unsettling sounds.
It is known for its low-res visuals that manage to create a strong psychological impact, delivering fear through tension rather than jump scares.

➤ CONNECTION TO CRY OF FEAR

Afraid of Monsters is considered a spiritual predecessor to Cry of Fear.
They share mechanics, visuals, and themes such as addiction, depression, and inner turmoil.
There are also direct references between the two — such as the Simon costume found in Afraid of Monsters: Director’s Cut.

WHO IS DAVID LEATHERHOFF?

David Leatherhoff is the protagonist of Afraid of Monsters and Afraid of Monsters: Director’s Cut. He is a mentally unstable man who has become addicted to a mysterious drug sent to him by an unknown company.

Appearance

David appears to be in his late 20s to early 30s. He wears a black hoodie with white stripes on the sleeves and the text “EA 45” printed on the chest, above a small, unreadable line of text. He also wears matching pants with a stripe running from the pockets down to the ankles, black sneakers, and has messy, unkempt hair. Notably, he has a scar underneath his right eye.

Backstory

After receiving bottle after bottle of the unknown drug from an anonymous source, David decides to seek help at the local hospital. Upon entering a bathroom there, he finds yet another bottle of the same pills waiting for him. Unable to resist, David takes the pills—and immediately passes out, falling into a deep nightmare.

Some time later, he awakens in what appears to be an abandoned hospital, late at night. He quickly realizes that the nightmares in his mind have now become terrifyingly real, and he must fight to survive against horrifying hordes of monsters.

David’s ultimate fate depends on which ending the player achieves in the game.

FIRST CONCEPTS FOR DAVID

VERSIONS OF THE GAME

Afraid of Monsters actually has two main versions: the original mod from 2005 and a Director’s Cut that dropped in 2007. If you're gonna play it today, you’ll probably want the Director’s Cut — that’s the version most people talk about.

Original Version (2005)

The first version was short, super raw, and honestly kinda experimental. It already had that dark, trippy vibe — weird enemies, flashlight horror, and a sense of total isolation. But it was also really limited: just one path, no alternate endings, and some rough gameplay. Still, it was enough to leave a mark on anyone who tried it back then.

Director’s Cut (2007)

This is where the game really became something special. The Director’s Cut added a bunch of stuff: multiple endings, secret areas, new monsters, extra weapons, and different paths depending