Alexis Kestler
Wondering how to conquer the perplexing "The horror the horror" clue from Steam‘s summer sale? You‘ve come to the right place. This comprehensive 2800+ word guide will walk you through solving clue #8 step-by-step to earn rewards and discounts.
As an avid Steam sale participant and horror gaming fanatic, I‘ve tackled these annual clues for years. Trust me when I say "The horror the horror" stumped even seasoned vets! But with the right approach, you can discover the solution and continue earning Summer Sale trading cards.
Ready to learn the tricks from a Steam Sale pro? Let‘s crack clue #8 together!
The Epic History of Steam‘s Legendary Summer Sale
Before jumping into the nitty gritty clues, let‘s kick things off with some history and facts on Steam‘s iconic Summer Sale. This annual PC gaming tradition first launched in 2010 as the "Steam Summer Camp Sale." In those early years, the theme revolved around crafts, camps, and trading.
Since then, the Steam Summer Sale has evolved into one of the most anticipated gaming events worldwide. In 2022, Steam hit a record 32 million concurrent users during the Summer Sale kickoff!
Here are some mind-blowing statistics that showcase the sale‘s epic growth:
- 2016: $160 million+ in purchases during the Summer Sale
- 2020: 60 million users participated in the Steam Summer Sale event
- 2021: Top selling games included Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Hades, and Valheim
- 2022: The Steam Deck added a new element, allowing mobile Summer Sale gaming
The Steam Summer Sale features deep discounts across thousands of games, often 75% off or more. Participating in the community activities also earns you trading cards, badges, and other collectibles.
A Primer on the Followchain Clue Challenge
One of the most popular Steam Summer Sale events is Followchain – a series of rhyming clue riddles leading to specific games. Users must locate the correct game on Steam matching each clue to earn rewards.
Followchain takes place over multiple days of the sale, with a new clue revealed daily. The clues start relatively simple, then increase in complexity and obscurity. Solving them requires equal parts logical thinking and Steam store savvy.
The objectives include:
- Interpreting vague, rhyming clue texts
- Filtering the Steam store efficiently to find the matching game
- Uncovering solutions to earn prizes like avatars and badges
This perplexing puzzle format engages the Steam community to collaborate and share their clue solutions. Think of it as a crowdsourced scavenger hunt on an epic scale!
Decoding Clue #8 – "The Horror The Horror"
Now let‘s dive into solving the tricky eighth Followchain clue for 2022‘s Steam Summer Sale:
"The horror the horror, pretentious explorers. This one‘s the father of all arty snorers."
My first reaction was, "Huh?" But as a devoted horror gamer, the key is analyzing the terminology used in the rhyme:
- "The horror" – Indicates a horror game is the solution
- "Pretentious" – Suggests an obscure, artistic indie game
- "Father of all" – References an early, pioneering horror game
- "Arty" – Again pointing to an artistic aesthetic
- "Snorers" – Implying the game may be slower paced
With these clues in mind, I filtered the Steam store specifically for horror games, then tried sorting by oldest release date.
And there it was – The Consecration of Esthme matching the "father of all arty snorers" clue!
Step-By-Step Guide to Finding The Consecration of Esthme
Here is an expanded walkthrough to locate The Consecration of Esthme‘s Steam page efficiently:
Step 1) Access Steam‘s Horror Games Category
- From the Steam store homepage, select the Categories dropdown
- Click Horror Games to enter this genre hub
Step 2) Utilize Search Filters
- In Horror Games, access the search bar on the right
- Check the "Horror" tag filter option to show just horror titles
- Optionally add other filters like "Indie" games
Step 3) Click Through Sub-Genres
- Scroll down and browse Horror Games sub-categories
- Click into Psychological Horror, Survival Horror, etc to find more niche titles
Step 4) Scan Results Carefully
- When looking through a category, read each game title and description
- Watch for keywords related to the clue like "pretentious," "artsy," or "retro"
Step 5) Still Stuck? Try Sorting Differently
- If you don‘t see the game, return to Horror Games
- Change the default sort from Relevance to Release Date
- Older/early access games will bubble up with new sorting
Step 6) Locate The Consecration of Esthme
- When sorted by release date, look for the clue‘s "father of all" early horror game
- Click on The Consecration of Esthme to open its game page
Step 7) Follow + Earn Rewards
- On the game page, click the Follow button
- This registers solving the clue, granting you badges, avatars, etc!
I recommend using the steps above when tackling ANY vague Followchain clue during the Steam Summer Sale. The key is systematically filtering and scanning all relevant categories until you finally spot the solution.
Don‘t ignore lesser known indie titles either – the clues often point to these hidden gems.
Comparing The Consecration of Esthme to Iconic Horror Games
Now that we‘ve found The Consecration of Esthme, what exactly is this game? Why does it match the "pretentious artist" clues?
Digging deeper, Consecration is an obscure indie horror game from the 1990s. The graphics are surreal and disturbing while the gameplay itself is slow and dreamlike.
Here‘s how Consecration compares to classic horror game franchises:
Resident Evil – Whereas Resident Evil relies on visceral action and combat, Consecration utilizes experimental art styles and psychological tension.
Silent Hill – Both feature psychological elements, but Silent Hill veers more demonic. Consecration has a fine arts aesthetic.
Amnesia – Amnesia builds an intricate lore-based world. Consecration focuses more on surreal imagery.
Five Nights at Freddy‘s – Five Nights uses jump scares and limited gameplay. Consecration envelops you in a nightmare not dependent on mechanics.
So in summary, Consecration pioneered bringing avant-garde and experimental art styles to horror gaming. Gameplay comes second to creating a disturbing ambiance.
We can see why it fits the Followchain clue references to being the "father of all arty snorers" in the horror realm. While niche, uncovering this game specifically satisfies solving the clue.
Rewards for Solving Clue #8: The Horror The Horror
Pinpointing Consecration of Esthme pays off with these Steam goodies:
- Consecration of Esthme Avatar Frame
- Steam Summer Sale 2022 3000 Badge XP
The Avatar Frame lets you showcase your horror fandom on your Steam profile. Meanwhile, the 3000 XP boosts your Summer Sale event badge level.
Compared to other Followchain clue rewards, 3000 XP lands in the medium range. Earlier clues grant smaller amounts like 100 or 500 XP. Later clues provide up to 10000 XP as they increase in difficulty!
To summarize, expect the Level 8 rewards to give your badge XP a moderate boost while also unlocking a cool horror avatar for bragging rights.
Expert Tips for Tackling Any Followchain Clue
Through years of dedication to the Steam Summer Sale, I‘ve identified some pro strategies for solving Followchain clues efficiently:
Read carefully – Dissect the wording in each clue rhyme for hints pointing to genre, style, release date, etc. The keywords are everything!
Think outside the box – Obscure indie games are likely solutions. Don‘t just look at AAA hits.
Filter smartly – Use Steam‘s search filters to narrow down by genre, date, tags, etc. This makes scanning easier.
Sort differently – If stuck, try changing the sort order to surface games you may have overlooked.
Collaborate – Compare hunches with other community members in forums and chat rooms. Two heads are better than one!
Enjoy the hunt! – Half the fun is debating the possible solutions and learning about new games.
With these pro tips in your arsenal, no convoluted Followchain clue can stop you from earning Summer Sale rewards!
Expert Analysis on Horror Gaming‘s Rise in Popularity
Let‘s take a quick detour from our guide to examine some interesting data on the horror gaming industry‘s growth. This provides context on why a game like The Consecration of Esthme is the perfect Followchain clue solution.
According to Statista, the global gaming market is projected to reach $269 billion by 2025. Horror games specifically are driving an increasing share of spending and engagement:
- Horror games generated $3.24 billion in 2021, up from just $2.74 billion in 2020.
- Popular franchises like Dead Space, Resident Evil, and Silent Hill saw sales double from 2020-2021.
- Horror is the 5th most popular game genre based on active Steam players.
- Among horror fans, 65% are male and 35% female. The audience is more diverse than assumed.
- Hot upcoming horror titles predicted to sell big in 2023 include Scorn, The Callisto Protocol, and the Dead Space remake.
With the horror genre booming, casual and hardcore gamers alike are becoming more receptive to avant-garde experiences like The Consecration of Esthme. Uncovering this artistic indie title in the Steam Summer Sale aligns perfectly with horror gaming‘s rise into the mainstream.
The Steam Summer Sale clues leverage this popularity by getting users to engage with both mainstream blockbuster and niche horror games they may otherwise overlook. It‘s a win-win for Steam and publishers!
Additional Resources for Dominating the Steam Summer Sale
Friend, we‘re nearing the end of our epic journey to shed light on solving "The horror the horror." Hopefully you now feel equipped to tackle this clue and any other that the Steam Summer Sale throws your way.
To take your Steam Sale dominance to the next level, be sure to check out these additional guides:
Complete Guide to Getting Steam Summer Sale Trading Cards
How to Craft Steam Summer Sale Badges Quickly
All Followchain Clue Solutions in One Place
Steam Summer Sale 2022 & 2023 Dates
I especially recommend the Horror Games subreddit for discussing clues with fellow horror fans. And for connecting with me directly for more Steam Summer Sale tips, check out my profiles:
Now you have all the tools needed to conquer clue #8 and unlock the maximum rewards during the sale. Enjoy hunting down those savings on terrifying new games! Until next year‘s summer sale, my horror loving friend.
