Pumpkin Panic

Movement: WASD or Arrow Keys | Run: Hold Shift while moving | Pick up items/plants: Press F | Water plants: Press Spacebar | Use lantern at night: Press R | Zoom in/out: Mouse wheel. The game also supports Xbox and PlayStation controllers fully, making it comfortable to play with your preferred input method.

Pumpkin Panic features permadeath mechanics, meaning when you die, your progress resets and you start a new run. This roguelike element adds tension to nighttime survival and makes each playthrough unique. While you lose your current farm progress, you gain experience and knowledge about creature patterns, optimal farming strategies, and survival tactics that help you perform better in subsequent runs.

Listen carefully for audio cues that indicate creatures are nearby. Use your lantern (R key) to see in the darkness, but remember that light might attract attention. Move quietly, hide behind objects when threats approach, and always plan multiple escape routes. Learn creature behavior patterns through repeated playthroughs. The key is balancing farm work with constant awareness of your surroundings, especially as night approaches.

The web browser version typically uses session-based gameplay where progress may not persist between browser sessions, depending on your browser's local storage settings. The Steam version offers better progress tracking through Steam achievements (13 total) that remain unlocked permanently. However, due to the permadeath mechanic, each individual run starts fresh when you die, which is intentional game design.

Balance is key! During daylight hours, focus heavily on farming activities—plant crops efficiently, water them quickly, harvest regularly, and go fishing to earn coins. Use your earnings to upgrade tools and expand your farm for better efficiency. As evening approaches, shift your mindset to survival mode: prepare escape routes, position yourself strategically, and keep your lantern ready. Rushing farm work at night is risky, so maximize daylight productivity.

Game sessions vary greatly based on your survival skills. Beginners might last 5-10 minutes before encountering creatures, while experienced players can extend runs to 30-60 minutes or more by mastering farming efficiency and creature avoidance. The game's permadeath system means sessions end when you die, but the addictive gameplay loop keeps players starting new runs immediately to improve their performance.

Pumpkin Panic includes 13 Steam achievements that reward various milestones and accomplishments, such as 'Finally, a friend!' (likely related to unlocking pets), 'Store up grain!' (harvesting achievements), and 'Coin enthusiast' (collecting coins). These achievements provide long-term goals beyond individual runs and add replay value. They're earned permanently even though individual farm runs reset upon death.

Yes, the browser version on Blue White Flag is accessible on mobile devices through web browsers. The game adapts to touchscreen controls, though the experience may differ from keyboard/controller play. For the best experience with full controller support and Steam achievements, playing on PC through Steam (free download) is recommended. The game requires Windows 10 minimum with modest system requirements.

Pumpkin Panic delivers atmospheric horror rather than constant jump scares. The game builds tension through its cute-yet-creepy art style, eerie nighttime ambiance, unsettling audio cues, and the genuine threat of permadeath. The contrast between peaceful farming activities and sudden creature encounters creates psychological dread. It's scary in a 'cozy horror' way—not nightmare-inducing but definitely tense and unnerving, especially during night sequences.

Fishing provides a relaxing way to earn coins when you need a break from farming. Head to the water areas on your farm and interact to start fishing. Coins earned from both fishing and harvesting crops are used to expand your farm area, purchase new plant varieties, upgrade your character's abilities, and unlock pets. The economic progression system rewards both farming efficiency and fishing patience, giving you multiple paths to farm development.

Pumpkin Panic's success comes from its unique genre blend—combining cozy farming simulation with genuine horror survival. The free-to-play model removes barriers to entry, the charming pixel-art aesthetic appeals to wide audiences, and the permadeath mechanic creates addictive 'one more run' gameplay. Overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews (2,900+) praise its creativity, accessibility, Halloween atmosphere, and the satisfying balance between relaxing farm work and terrifying survival challenges.