The wait is over, Dreamers. The Being and Becoming open playtest is LIVE NOW on Steam!
Dive into a world where gorgeous, handcrafted pixel art meets a nightmare that warps reality itself. As a rare lucid dreamer, you are the only hope to defy the prophecy of The Word and consume the spirits of the corrupted to save what remains of a dying kingdom.
What’s waiting for you in the Playtest?
The Beginning of the Nightmare: Play through the game’s intro and explore multiple hauntingly beautiful locations.
Master Your Arsenal:Experiment with a redesigned combat system featuring stamina mechanics and both light/heavy weapon archetypes (like the Exalted Axe and Cleaver).
Face the Corruption: Challenge two epic bosses and a variety of regular enemies, including the swarm-heavy “Ghosts.”
New Movement Abilities: Test out the new Slide move, ledge-clinging, and improved platforming responsiveness.
How to Join:
Head over to the Being and Becoming Steam page.
Look for the “Join the Being and Becoming Playtest” banner.
Click “Request Access” and dive into the Collective Dream!
Release Window Update: We are also thrilled to announce that the full journey begins in 2026!
Don’t let the beauty of the forest or the grandeur of the cathedral lull your vigilance—the deeper you descend, the more treacherous it becomes.
Play the Playtest & Wishlist on Steam: https://s.team/a/1917990
The water is still, dark, and promises secrets—and not the pleasant kind. Drowned Lake, developed by Monumental Collab and published by Critical Reflex, is emerging from the depths as one of the most intriguing upcoming horror games, blending survival mechanics, deep narrative, and unique Brazilian folklore.
If you enjoy games like Dredge or Darkwood but crave a more unsettling, documentarian horror experience, then it’s time to cast your line into the waters of Drowned Lake.
What is Drowned Lake?
Set in the coastal forests of Brazil, Drowned Lake is a fishing survival horror game with an emphasis on investigation and narrative. The central mystery revolves around the disappearance of an amateur documentarian named Bento. His vanishing acts as the catalyst, drawing three strangers to the sinister location:
Carolina: The intrepid reporter.
Rafael: The first responder (firefighter).
Leonardo: The old fisherman.
You play as these three individuals, with the story unfolding in a non-linear fashion from their distinct perspectives. Each character brings their own secrets, motivations, and desires to the lake, which is haunted by a dark presence and the whisper of a mysterious entity known as “Our Lady.”
A New Breed of Horror: Folklore and Atmosphere
What truly sets Drowned Lake apart is its deep well of inspiration: Brazilian folklore, religious syncretism, and social discontent.
Instead of relying on common horror tropes, Monumental Collab—a small collective spread throughout Brazil—weaves local myths and cryptic creatures into the game’s fabric. This creates an atmosphere that is not just scary, but genuinely unfamiliar and oppressive.
The Setting: The game takes place in an isolated, dark environment where safety is a dream. Every abandoned wreck and quiet stream is pervaded by a sense of dread.
Documented Horror: The game employs a unique blend of perspectives, shifting between first-person for up-close investigation and puzzles, and a more distant, almost isometric view for exploration and fishing. This dual perspective reinforces the “documentary found footage” style of the horror.
Fishing with Consequences
The core survival loop revolves around fishing, but here it’s far more than a relaxing mini-game. You are literally fishing for evidence and crucial resources needed to survive and solve the mystery.
However, the lake is a living, malevolent entity. You never know what your hook might snag: a piece of salvation, or something that awakens the horrors below. Making “Noise” is explicitly dangerous and can summon the dark presences that lurk in the depths. You have to balance the desperate need for resources with the ever-present threat of being caught yourself.
Latest News: The Playtest is Live!
The excitement for Drowned Lake is building, and the developers recently released a significant update:
Public Playtest: The game is currently in a public playtest phase on Steam (published by CRITICAL REFLEX’s horror label, CR Channel). This is a fantastic opportunity for players to get an early look at the core mechanics and atmosphere.
Feedback Focus: The playtest is designed to gather feedback on the movement, resource management, and overall pacing of the unique fishing/investigation blend.
Drowned Lake promises a unique experience that combines the tension of survival horror with the methodical process of investigation, all wrapped in a rich and rarely explored cultural tapestry. It’s a game that demands you dive deep, but be warned: the deeper you go, the darker the secrets you’ll find.
