Off the AppStore: Weather is the least of your worries in Storm Warning

• 2D horror that's harder to survive than you think
• You never feel safe, so you better keep moving
• Gather clues to learn and pass the time, but never lose sight of things

Welcome to Off The AppStore, a weekly feature with a twist. Namely, that while these - as with all the games we cover here - are games that you can play on your phone, they're ones that operate outside of the realms of the big two ways to play: The Google Play Store and the Apple AppStore.

That means that there might be a bit of work required in downloading alternative AppStores or APKs, or that the games can simply be played in your phone browser. We'll make sure to detail that for each game though. Anyway, read on to find a new game or experience to play Off The AppStore.

You're one of two people: You like being indoors during a big storm, or you dread it. Perhaps you're a different type of person, but we don't discuss them. Whenever a storm occurs, many of us use it as an excuse to get cosy, and comfortable, and engage in a range of activities across the lazy spectrum. Sometimes we do things that lift our spirits and make us feel warm and full of energy. But at other times, we turn to something to enhance the cold and dark feeling of the storm outside, just trying to get into our homes. Of course, MoonLight shows us that's not the most terrifying thing that can get in with Storm Warning.

This 2D pixel-art side-scroller is a survival horror game in a limited space. You play as a man staying in a wooden cabin, likely miles away from civilisation. The reasons for this are unclear, but it's supposedly to avoid coping with some sort of tragic event. A storm is raging outside, making travel and communication nearly impossible. All you can do is wander around the cabin, making sure that everything is normal and try to stave off cabin fever.

Of course, just because you're indoors doesn't mean that the outdoors will stay out. The man is being haunted by dark figures of various shapes and ghastly expressions lurking just outside the cabin. While the doors remain locked, there are plenty of breakable windows along the walls. Using a combination of hiding and staring your killer dead in the face, you must dispel each one as they appear in the window. Unfortunately, being a human being vulnerable to the fear of horrifying apparitions, you can only move so quickly. You must monitor each window efficiently to see which figures are lurking within them.

Storm Warning utilises the classic horror trope of a heavy storm to create a dark atmosphere and make escape nearly impossible. The survival element is entirely on you, being able to move across the cabin quickly, gathering any information, and interacting with objects as you see fit. The longer you last, the more figures will haunt you. To survive, you must face your fears as the rain bears down on your haven.

You can play Storm Warning from its itch.io page!