The Itch

The Itch

Dane Sherman · September 2, 2019 · Free to Play, Indie, Adventure, Platformer

The Itch is free to play — no purchase needed. We track it so you know if that ever changes.

PC
Very Positive89% · 99
This game is free to play. Get it on Steam →

Screenshots

The Itch price

The Itch is free to play — there is no purchase price, on Steam or anywhere else we track. We keep watching it, so if it ever stops being free the price history on this page will show when that happened and what it changed to.

About The Itch

Inspired by true allergic reactions, The Itch is a 2D platformer where you transfer and absorb energy from the world around you while searching for a cure to a virus living inside you. Along the way, you'll have to navigate tangled vines, clear up blocked passages, and discover clues about the origin of this deadly virus.

The Itch — game info

Platforms
Windows
Player modes
Single-player
PC Game Pass
Not included

What Steam players say

Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.

✦ AI summary

The Itch is a short, atmospheric horror-puzzle platformer that effectively uses its heartrate mechanic and minimalist pixel art to create psychological tension without relying on jump scares. Players appreciate the sincere level design and creepy atmosphere, though opinions are mixed on the game's brevity and lack of substantial content, with some finding it a worthwhile experimental experience while others feel it doesn't justify its short length. The simple graphics and limited customization options are noted as drawbacks, though the focused design does contribute to the game's unsettling mo

Recommended Feb 8, 2024
⠀
9 found this helpful
Not recommended Mar 5, 2022
The Itch is one of literally thousands of 2D retro pixel platformers infesting Steam. This one has very simple pixel "art" and involves exploring relatively small puzzle/precision platformer levels to collect keys and so on to progress through this relatively short game. There's a "heartrate" gimmick as you must prevent your heartrate getting too high or too low. Some effort went into the level design and overall architecture for the game, making this a genuine and sincere effort at making a platformer. While the resolution can be changed, this just makes the locked assets scale in size rather than actually changing them. The graphics also can't be customised to improve the visuals. A choice was made to use obsolete retro pixel "art" as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics. It's unclear if this is due to lack of budget or talent, regardless, the overall visual quality of the game is extremely low as a result. These flaws push this game far below minimum acceptable standards for PC. The game is completely free. Nothing speaks more to a developers belief in themselves and their product than making their game available for everyone without remuneration. This is certai…
2 found this helpful
Not recommended Aug 29, 2026
Nice game, but it's definitely confusing. The Itch is a 2D platformer with puzzles. You have to manage your heart level and click objects to make them appear or disappear. I'm going to be very honest. I couldn't finish this game. The level design feels confusing to me. I don't understand where I'm going. I don't want to use a guide or watch a walkthrough, so I'm pretty much giving up on this game. You'll have to backtrack to some areas (for finding secrets or notes), but it's very unclear where you are supposed to go. The art and sound design are good, and that's all I'll say. I'll update this review if I ever complete it.
Recommended Nov 9, 2025
Игра 'The Itch' – это короткий, но атмосферный хоррор-эксперимент. Сама концепция, с этим зудом и нарастающим ощущением тревоги, реализована весьма эффективно. Визуальный стиль, хотя и простой, создает гнетущую атмосферу, а звуковое сопровождение отлично подчеркивает напряжение. Сюжет намеренно недосказан, оставляя много места для интерпретаций, что одновременно и плюс, и минус. Хотелось бы больше конкретики в развязке, но в целом игра оставляет сильное впечатление. Особенно ценно то, как 'The Itch' умудряется напугать без дешевых скримеров, полагаясь на психологическое воздействие. Если вы ищете короткий и необычный хоррор, способный пощекотать нервы, 'The Itch' вполне может вас заинтересовать. Главное, не ждите чего-то масштабного - это скорее жуткий этюд, чем полноценная картина. Из минусов - малая продолжительность и некоторая недосказанность, но как бесплатный инди-проект, 'The Itch' определенно заслуживает внимания.
Recommended Mar 14, 2025
man, past me was lame this game was simple beginning to end
Recommended Aug 9, 2021
Gee what lovely characters, I sure hope a Virus or something doesn't pop in. I haven't played this game in a long time, maybe I'll come back to it, I don't really see a purpose into doing so though. The game is fun while it lasts, it doesn't really have anything for you to do, and its lenght certianly doesn't make up for it, but that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try the game, just like everything else in life "its an experince" Gameplay is ok. Everyone should at least think about trying this game.

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