[THE FINAL PREVIEW] Do No Harm – To Heal or to Kill?

If you enjoy independent indie game coverage, consider supporting Indie-Games.eu on Patreon. It helps keep the site independent.

A simulation game about playing as a doctor is supposed to be focused on healing patients, right? And while that is true in most cases, the demo of Do No Harm brings a dark twist to the genre, putting you in the role of a village doctor who has to deal not only with impatient and ungrateful villagers but also with Lovecraftian horrors that threaten his sanity.

The Main Gameplay Loop is Focused on Analyzing Patient Symptoms

Do No Harm uses elements from professional simulations and games that test decision-making under pressure, offering a unique blend of strategy and horror. The game is set in the 19th century, where you will diagnose and treat patients using ancient and often enigmatic medical procedures. The goal is to endure 30 days in an increasingly hostile environment while trying to cure the villagers, preserve your sanity, or uncover the truth behind the supernatural horrors.

In the demo, we have the opportunity to play for only 7 days, but it still offers a lot of content. The main gameplay loop is focused on analyzing patient symptoms and finding a cure. Initially, we have one syringe, four different medicines, and an instruction book at our disposal. However, as time passes, the tools and methods become more complex: you need to accurately dose medications, watch for allergies and physical symptoms, adhere to written restrictions, and also invest in new diagnostic tools like a magnifying glass.

Practically every day, we get something new, which turns routine medical procedures into a complex and rich investigation. There is only one mechanic that I dislike – the humor circle. It is introduced quite late and further confuses an already complex system.

Do No Harm is Simply Not to be Missed

Taking on the role of a doctor is an interesting choice for players, but I believe the circumstances we find ourselves in make the entire experience even more intense. Not only must we carefully spend our savings, but we also have to look after our own sanity and reputation in the village. I particularly enjoyed finding anomalies and fighting hallucinations, as this forces you to be more attentive to your surroundings.

Moreover, the demo version showed us the possibility of forging alliances with the villagers, suggesting multiple endings. Will you help the local priest by treating members of his parish? Or will you intentionally send people to their deaths because you’ve made a deal with the gravedigger? You can also sink into madness and surrender to the darkness, but remember that every moral decision influences the final outcome.

Speaking of the narrative, I cannot overlook the game’s extraordinary atmosphere. The beautiful, hand-drawn opening scene immediately introduces us to a world of shadows and mystery. That feeling remains during patient examinations; the room is lit only by an oil lamp, making every patient look like a dark figure rapidly approaching you.

I love the character design; they are simultaneously cartoonish and distorted, which perfectly fits the game’s Lovecraftian style (and further enhances the creepy look of the monsters). I think this game should not go unnoticed, especially since it is coming out in a few days. Based on what I saw in the demo, a wild adventure awaits us in a world where everything depends on your choice: whom to save and whom to condemn to death.