Ib was released in 2012, joining the ranks of the other RPGMaker horror game classics of the time- Mad Father, Ao Oni, Misao, The Witch's House, and the ever classic Yume Nikki (if you would really include it in the horror category.)

Ib is, and was, stylistically quite different from its contemporaries. A lot of games took place in houses with monsters, schools with monsters- this game chooses an empty modern art museum. I will be the first to say that this game instilled a fear of modern art museums in me. After investigating a painting, a power outage occurs, and all the guests and staff inside disappear. You are entirely alone, and the doors are locked.

Paintings and statues come alive. Even the ones that are not alive are deeply unsettling. Ib herself, only 9 years old, finds a lot of words and concepts unfamiliar. But it does not take long until Garry shows up- an adult man, also trapped inside the museum. With two characters, Ib begins to really come into itself, with a nice sense of humor (something shared by most of the other RPGMaker horror games) that does not detract from the lonely atmosphere, good characterization for the cast, interesting puzzles, and memorable scenarios (with the Doll Room probably being the most memorable part of all, and for good reason).

I think Ib definately sits up at the top in the "S Tier" of the classic RPGMaker horror games, being my personal favorite. It has a lot of replay value as well, I've come back to it every few years. I have not played the remake, though.

You can buy the remake, or you can play the original version here.