I came to Hell Clock for the vibes, then learned a history lesson

One of my favorite experiences to have with a piece of art is, “I have no idea what is going on, and I love it.” It’s how I feel when I play Elden Ring, or when watching the 1981 horror movie Possession. And most recently, it’s how I feel about the roguelite game Hell Clock, which depicts a version of the Canudos Massacre, a real historical event that took place in Northern Brazil from 1893–1897.

Since I started playing this game last week, I have read several articles about the Canudos Massacre. The game itself has taught me almost nothing about this deeply sad piece of Brazilian history; its characters don’t really explain what is happening. Being victims of this horrific circumstance, they are struggling to understand it themselves; there’s no time for them to sit around describing the particulars. The Hell Clock is ticking, after all.