Pumpkin Eater

Inspired by the old rhyme Peter, Peter pumpkin eater, this psychological horror visual novel follows a family as they tend to their pumpkin-headed son. Originally submitted for the 2021 Spooktober Jam, the game blends folklore with stark medical realism to create a claustrophobic, intimate nightmare.

What to expect

• 40-minute kinetic story — a linear, tightly paced experience with no branching choices. Sit back, observe, and let the narrative unfold.
• hand-drawn illustrations that craft a tactile, unsettling atmosphere and sharpen the sense of unease as the family’s situation deepens.
• 100% medical accuracy presented with an accompanying glossary and a detailed timeline of events to ground the horror in realism.
• Atmosphere and theme focused on psychological horror, family dynamics, and the burdens of caring for something uncanny and dangerous.

Story and themes

The narrative centers on a household trying to manage a pumpkin-headed son, unraveling how love, fear, and secrecy can distort perception. As the family guards their secret, the line between care and compulsion blurs, turning routine routines into ritualized acts of containment. The experience is designed to be intense yet concise, inviting contemplation on obsession, control, and the cost of preserving what cannot be understood.

Pumpkin Eater is a compact, self-contained piece that prioritizes atmosphere and a sustained, singular mood over multiple endings. It is a thoughtful entry that showcases craft in storytelling, visuals, and a commitment to accessible, precise clinical detail within a horror framework.