I recently built a fan guide for The Skin Stapler, an indie
narrative horror game from Tainted Pact Games (creators of
Suffer the Night). It launched on Steam in August 2026.
Documenting a story-first horror game taught me a few things.
Story Games Need Different Documentation
The Skin Stapler isn't a mechanics-heavy game — it's a
one-sitting narrative experience about a detective hunting a
serial killer in a decaying 1980s city. The "guide" players
actually want isn't walkthroughs, it's context: character
backgrounds, timeline clarity, and thematic analysis.
What I Track
- Character perspectives (you play multiple people, including the detective and civilians in their final moments)
- Audio tape content (the killer's distorted messages)
- Location details across Carrion City
- Thematic notes on the grindhouse/VHS influences
Tools I Used
Static site generator + markdown + JSON. No database, no
backend — pages load instantly, which matters when players
reference guides mid-game.
Check it out: https://theskinstapler.com/
