《四步殺》（英文名：Scholar’s Mate）是結合心理驚悚與解謎要素的第一人稱視角冒險遊戲，由獨立開發團隊JanduSoft製作，並於Steam、Switch、PS4、PS5與Xbox X/S平台推出。以幽閉空間為背景，打造出強烈的心理壓迫感與孤立感，藉由劇情推進與高壓逃生過程，引領玩家逐步揭開主角內心的真相與過去的創傷。

故事圍繞主角朱蒂絲（Judith）展開，她在廢棄精神病院中醒來，卻發現自己喪失記憶，且被神秘邪惡獵人「艾迪」（Eddie）不斷追擊。在黑暗與恐懼中，必須解開醫院中的重重謎團，找出自己的身分與過去發生的事件。這不僅是一場生存逃脫的考驗，更是一段自我探索與心理療癒的旅程。場景設計充滿象徵與暗示，許多房間與物件皆指向主角過去的創傷經驗與心理壓力，使得劇情推進極具深度與內省意味。

操作方面，採用傳統第一人稱操控方式，支援鍵鼠與手把，整體操作手感簡潔直覺。需在昏暗逼仄的環境中探索、收集道具、解鎖機關，同時設法避開艾迪的追擊。遊戲節奏偏慢，但緊張感十足，主角能使用手電筒照明，但光源也可能暴露位置，因此在光明與隱匿之間做出選擇成為核心機制之一。解謎設計偏重邏輯與觀察，需要細心閱讀文件、分析線索，才能成功推進劇情。玩家經常需要在有限時間內完成破解，否則將面臨追擊致死的風險。

氣氛透過音效與美術風格營造得極為成功。畫面雖非AAA水準，卻以冷色調與細緻的環境建模營造出廢棄醫院的陰森與壓抑。牆上的塗鴉、破碎的門窗與搖晃的燈光，讓人彷彿置身恐怖電影現場。音效方面則是本作一大亮點，從遠處傳來的腳步聲、呼吸聲到門軸的嘎吱聲，無不強化玩家的緊張感與沉浸感，尤其在逃亡過程中更顯逼真。

在市場評價方面，獲得多數玩家的好評，尤其在敘事張力與氛圍建構上受到肯定。許多玩家認為本作成功營造出一種真實的恐懼與心理壓力，劇情層層遞進，令人欲罷不能。評論網站如GamesRadar與IGN認為，敘事風格令人聯想到《逃生》（Outlast）與《心靈殺手》（Alan Wake），但加入更多關於女性心理創傷與壓抑記憶的探討，使其具有獨特的敘事深度。然而，也有批評指出遊戲的節奏稍慢，戰鬥與互動部分略顯單調，對追求高刺激的玩家而言可能不夠「爽快」。此外，部分玩家認為遊戲初期引導略顯模糊，可能讓新手感到困惑。

總體而言，《四步殺》是以劇情與氣氛為核心的心理驚悚遊戲。它並不以華麗的戰鬥或複雜的機制取勝，而是透過細膩的敘事與強烈的視聽體驗，將玩家帶入充滿隱喻與壓抑的心理之旅。對於喜歡探索人性黑暗面、擅長從細節中尋找線索與意義的玩家而言，這將是一款極具吸引力與思考價值的作品。如果你欣賞慢節奏、重敘事、具心理深度的遊戲，那麼這作品絕對值得一試。

Scholar’s Mate is a first-person psychological thriller and puzzle-adventure game developed by the indie studio JanduSoft. Released across multiple platforms including Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, the game plunges players into a tense, claustrophobic environment where psychological pressure and isolation become key elements of its immersive narrative. Through slow-burning tension, symbolic visuals, and intense escape mechanics, players gradually uncover the traumatic past and emotional depth of the protagonist.

The story centers around Judith, a woman who wakes up in an abandoned psychiatric hospital with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She is relentlessly hunted by a sinister figure known as Eddie, forcing her to navigate the dark corridors and unravel the chilling secrets of the hospital. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that the setting is not just a physical maze but also a psychological one, reflecting Judith’s repressed memories and unresolved traumas. The game isn’t merely a survival-horror experience; it is also a deeply introspective journey of self-discovery and healing.

Gameplay adopts a traditional first-person perspective, compatible with both keyboard/mouse and controller inputs. The mechanics are straightforward yet effective: players explore dim, narrow spaces, collect key items, solve environmental puzzles, and evade the terrifying Eddie. Although the pacing is deliberately slow, it maintains high tension throughout. A core mechanic involves managing the use of a flashlight—it can reveal hidden objects but also attract Eddie’s attention. This forces players to carefully choose between visibility and stealth. Puzzle-solving relies heavily on logic and attention to detail, often requiring players to read documents and analyze clues under time pressure; failure to solve puzzles quickly can lead to being caught and killed.

The atmosphere is one of the game’s strongest points. While the visuals aren’t AAA-level, the use of cold color palettes, subtle lighting effects, and intricately designed environments successfully evoke the eerie stillness of a decaying asylum. Graffiti-covered walls, flickering lights, and broken windows enhance the immersive horror aesthetic. Sound design is particularly noteworthy—creaking doors, distant footsteps, and ambient breathing noises all amplify the fear factor and make each encounter with Eddie palpably real.

In terms of market reception, Scholar’s Mate has been positively received, especially for its narrative depth and atmospheric tension. Players have praised the game for capturing a genuine sense of dread and emotional vulnerability. The storytelling has been compared to titles like Outlast and Alan Wake, but with an added focus on female psychological trauma and repressed memory, giving it a unique narrative perspective. That said, some critiques have surfaced: a few players found the pacing too slow, with combat and interaction systems feeling somewhat repetitive or simplistic. Others noted that the lack of early guidance could be confusing for newcomers.

Overall, Scholar’s Mate is a narrative-driven psychological thriller that prioritizes mood, story, and emotional resonance over fast-paced action or complex systems. Rather than relying on flashy combat, it delivers a nuanced and symbolic exploration of fear, memory, and identity. For players who appreciate games that probe the darker sides of the human psyche and reward careful observation and narrative immersion, this is a compelling and thought-provoking experience. If you enjoy slower-paced, story-heavy games with psychological depth, Scholar’s Mate is well worth your time.