'I based horror video game on working in a Scottish chippy'

February 26, 2026 - 10:04

Former chip shop worker turned game developer James Muirhead has channeled the unique pressures of deep-frying into his latest indie horror project. Muirhead, who spent years behind the counter of a busy Scottish takeaway, claims the environment was a surprising but perfect inspiration for a terrifying experience.

He describes the relentless, fast-paced shifts—the constant buzz of the fryers, the demanding queue of customers, and the stressful race against time—as inherently tense and atmospheric. These elements form the foundation of the game's unsettling mood. Players can expect to navigate eerie, grease-stained kitchens and shadowy stock rooms, where something far more sinister than hungry patrons is waiting.

Muirhead explained that the mundane, everyday setting makes the eventual supernatural horrors even more impactful. The familiar becomes frightening, transforming a commonplace job into a landscape of dread. The game aims to capture that specific feeling of late-night isolation and mounting pressure, but with a chilling, otherworldly twist. It’s a love letter to service industry veterans and horror fans alike, proving that terror can lurk in the most ordinary places.