TECHMASH

Tag: #SurvivalHorror

  • Strings, Screams & Switch 2 — My Friendly Neighborhood Comes Home, October 22

    Strings, Screams & Switch 2 — My Friendly Neighborhood Comes Home, October 22

    Developer siblings John and Evan Szymanski, alongside indie horror specialist DreadXP, have officially confirmed that the cult-loved puppet-survival horror My Friendly Neighborhood is heading to Nintendo Switch 2 — arriving October 22, 2026, just in time for Halloween.

    What Happened to the Neighbours?

    Originally launched on PC in July 2023 before spreading to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4 and Xbox One in July 2025, My Friendly Neighborhood casts you as Gordon, a maintenance worker sent to investigate the abandoned studio of a beloved children’s puppet show — only to find the cast has gone horribly, violently wrong. It’s survival horror with a distinctively uncanny twist: every roaming menace is a once-friendly puppet, and every corner of the neighbourhood hums with the ghost of cheerful daytime television… now twisted into something deeply unsettling.

    This isn’t jump-scare cheap shots — it’s slow-burn, atmospheric dread. You’ll explore a sprawling, non-linear map, manage scarce resources, solve environmental puzzles, and face off against a gallery of disturbingly expressive marionettes. Forget shotguns and assault rifles; your tools of the trade are delightfully deranged contraptions like The Rolodexer, which fires sharp letters to stagger foes, and duct tape to patch yourself together — echoing classic survival horror resource management with a distinctly handmade charm.

    Switch 2 — Enhanced & Complete

    The Switch 2 release brings the full, polished experience to Nintendo’s new hardware, including:

    • All previously released content and improvements refined since launch
    • Neighborhorde Mode, included right out of the box — an arcade-style wave-survival challenge unlocked after beating the main story, pitting you against escalating puppet hordes with unlockable modifiers and bonus weapons
    • Optimised controls, crisp visuals, and atmospheric audio tailored for Switch 2’s capabilities
    • Digital release across all regions; pricing to be confirmed

    From Two Brothers to Your Console

    Built by two brothers with a passion for classic horror and a very specific, very creepy aesthetic, My Friendly Neighborhood has earned its place as one of the standout indie horror hits of recent years. What began as a labour of love has grown into a franchise-favourite that proves you don’t need AAA budgets to deliver genuine fear — just imagination, restraint, and a knack for making felt fabric terrifying.

    “Making this game has been a journey we’ve taken together from day one,” John and Evan Szymanski shared in the announcement. “Bringing it to Switch 2 feels like the perfect next chapter — and getting it into players’ hands right before Halloween? That’s the dream.”

    Mark Your Calendar

    My Friendly Neighborhood launches digitally on Nintendo Switch 2 — Thursday 22 October 2026. If you’ve been waiting to see what all the screaming is about, or you’re ready to revisit the neighbourhood on the go, the wait is almost over.

    Don’t let the smiles fool you — those puppets are still waiting.

    More Info: My Friendly Neighborhood

    #MyFriendlyNeighborhood #NintendoSwitch2 #DreadXP #IndieHorror #SurvivalHorror #HalloweenGaming #PuppetHorror #SzymanskiBrothers #Techmash

  • Reality Breaks, Shadows Hunt — SCP: Project Pneuma’s New Trailer Unleashes Mind-Bending Horror

    Reality Breaks, Shadows Hunt — SCP: Project Pneuma’s New Trailer Unleashes Mind-Bending Horror

    The walls aren’t just watching. They’re shifting. Independent developer and publisher Zatun has just dropped a haunting new trailer for SCP: Project Pneuma, offering the clearest look yet at the atmospheric dread, unknowable anomalies, and reality-unravelling terror awaiting players in this upcoming first-person psychological survival horror title.

    What Lies Beneath Site-19

    The trailer lands hot on the heels of confirmation that SCP: Project Pneuma will launch into Steam Early Access on October 25, 2026 — and this fresh footage pulls back the curtain on exactly what went wrong. The premise is simple and devastating: following a catastrophic containment failure codenamed “Project Echelon,” the legendary Site-19 has fallen. Containment systems lie in ruins. The anomalies once locked deep below now roam free. And worse — the very fabric of perception itself is beginning to tear.

    You step into the bloodstained lab coat of Dr. Alexander “Alexie” Kolchak, one of the few Foundation researchers to survive the collapse. He’s not a soldier. He’s not armed to the teeth. He’s a man with a flashlight, dwindling supplies, and a desperate need to uncover the truth behind the disaster — all while the world around him stops making sense.

    Horror That Gets Inside Your Head

    Where many horror games rely on jump scares, Project Pneuma digs into something far more unsettling: your own mind. As Alexie ventures deeper into Site-19’s abandoned corridors, the trailer reveals how hallucinations begin to twist familiar rooms into something unrecognisable. Doors vanish. Hallways loop. What looks like safety might be just another trick of a fraying psyche. The danger isn’t just what’s out there — it’s what you can no longer trust.

    “Every location is designed to keep players on edge, with danger often lurking just out of sight,” Zatun explains. “As Alexie pushes deeper into the unknown, revealing new mysteries, unexpected encounters, and unforgettable moments along the way.”

    Anomalies You Fight With Caution, Not Bullets

    This is not a shooter. Resources are scarce. Direct confrontation is rarely an option. Every anomaly operates by its own distinct, deadly rules — and survival means learning them fast. The trailer highlights encounters with threats like SCP-096Z, where even a single glance can turn quiet exploration into a desperate scramble for cover. You’ll hide, observe, solve environmental puzzles, and piece together what happened through journals, voice recordings, and the scattered remnants of those who didn’t make it.

    More Than Just Facility Walls

    While Site-19 forms the heart of the nightmare, the game stretches far beyond concrete corridors. The journey will take you through abandoned research sites, dense forests, military checkpoints, and mysterious lakes — each holding clues to the breach and fresh horrors waiting in the dark. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, every shadow feels heavy, every silence loaded, every light source a fragile promise of safety.

    Coming Soon — And You Can Wishlist Now

    SCP: Project Pneuma arrives on Steam Early Access (Windows PC) on October 25, 2026, with full console releases planned for PlayStation and Xbox further down the line. You can already add it to your Steam wishlist to stay notified, and join the growing community on Discord to follow development updates straight from Zatun.

    This isn’t just another SCP game. It’s a slow-burn descent into a world where reality is a suggestion, trust is a luxury, and the most terrifying thing in the facility might be your own reflection.

    Don’t look too closely.

    More Info: SCP Project Pneuma

    #SCPProjectPneuma #Zatun #HorrorGames #SurvivalHorror #SCPFoundation #IndieDev #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #PsychologicalHorror #NewGameTrailer #Techmash

  • Vines, Voids & Vanished Crew — Dandelion Void Drops First-Ever Demo!

    Vines, Voids & Vanished Crew — Dandelion Void Drops First-Ever Demo!

    Deep space was meant to be a fresh start. Instead, it became a tomb. UK publisher Kwalee and independent, worker-owned studio Manzanita Interactive have officially revealed the very first playable demo for Dandelion Void — a tense survival horror where nature has reclaimed a starship, and the answers you seek are buried beneath overgrowth and shadow.

    The demo launched alongside the partnership announcement during the Triple-I Initiative Fall Showcase, and is available right now on Steam.

    The Pergola — A Ship Overgrown, A Mystery Unfolding

    The Pergola was a generation ark — humanity’s hope for a new world. Now it drifts silent between the stars, its hull breached, its corridors choked with alien vegetation, and its crew vanished without a trace. You wake alone amid the ruin, with nothing but what you can scavenge and the will to find out what went wrong.

    • Learn the ship — familiarise yourself with the Pergola’s systems, restore power, open sealed doors, and uncover hidden compartments. Understanding the vessel is your first line of defence
    • Scavenge & survive — forage scrap, fabricate tools, and fashion makeshift weapons from whatever you can pry loose. Resources are scarce; every bolt, battery, and scrap of fabric matters
    • Face the unknown — the jungle isn’t just decoration. It’s alive, it’s spreading, and it brings hostile lifeforms that have made the ship their hunting ground. Stay alert, keep your light close, and be ready to run or fight
    • Uncover the truth — piece together logs, notes, and environmental clues to reveal what happened to the crew, why the Pergola fell silent, and what force has overtaken the vessel

    From Project Zomboid Roots To Starship Horror

    Dandelion Void is directed by Brian Ostrander, creator of the wildly popular Save Our Station! mod for Project Zomboid — and that same DNA of deep survival, unflinching atmosphere, and meaningful crafting runs through every bulkhead:

    • No hand-holding — the demo drops you in and lets you explore, experiment, and learn the hard way
    • Atmosphere over jumps — the horror comes from quiet dread, isolation, and the feeling that something is watching from the shadows
    • Living ecosystem — the overgrowth changes as you move; what looks clear may not be, and paths can vanish behind you

    What The Demo Delivers

    This first-ever preview offers a substantial slice of the experience:

    • An early section of the Pergola to explore and make your temporary refuge
    • Full introduction to core mechanics: scavenging, crafting, light management, and system repair
    • Your first encounters with the ship’s new inhabitants — and your first clues to the disaster
    • No time limit, no artificial gates — explore at your own pace, but remember: staying in the dark is never safe

    Release Roadmap

    TitleDandelion Void
    DeveloperManzanita Interactive (worker-owned studio)
    PublisherKwalee (Leamington Spa, UK)
    DemoOut Now — Steam
    Full ReleaseEarly Access — 2027 (PC, Steam)
    DirectorBrian Ostrander (Save Our Station!, Project Zomboid)
    GenreSurvival Horror / Exploration / Crafting
    WishlistLive now on Steam

    The Ark Awaits

    The Pergola hasn’t given up all its secrets. Not yet. But the lights are coming back on, the demo is live, and someone is finally walking its halls again.

    Restore the systems. Outlast the growth. Discover what happened.

    More Info – Dandelion Void

    #DandelionVoid #Kwalee #ManzanitaInteractive #SurvivalHorror #SteamDemo #TripleIInitiative #ProjectZomboid #IndieGame #SpaceHorror #PCGaming #EarlyAccess2027 #Techmash

  • Fangs, Firearms & Fear — Huntsman Unleashes Hardcore Mode & Protect & Serve DLC October 26!

    Fangs, Firearms & Fear — Huntsman Unleashes Hardcore Mode & Protect & Serve DLC October 26!

    The nightmare at Atherton Labs is far from over — and this time, you can fight back. Ten Image Publishing and developer OnTheHouse Studios have lifted the lid on a major wave of updates for their tense arachnid horror Huntsman, bringing a punishing free Hardcore Mode, combat-driven story expansion Protect & Serve, and a sneak peek at future cosmetic packs — all landing October 26.

    What Is Huntsman?

    Huntsman drops you into the shadowed halls of Atherton Labs, a secret research facility overrun by genetically enhanced giant spiders. Originally a pure survival experience where stealth, distractions, and quick feet were your only defences, the game has kept players on edge since launch — and now the experience expands in bold new directions.

    Hardcore Mode — Twice the Spiders, Zero Mercy

    Arriving completely free to all owners on October 26, Hardcore Mode turns familiar corridors into fresh nightmares:

    • Two Huntsman spiders patrol key areas instead of one — doubling the threat and forcing constant vigilance
    • Limited saving system — no more quicksaves; you must discover and collect physical Save Discs scattered across the facility to preserve progress
    • Deadlier foes — Orb Weavers strike faster, shrinking your reaction window
    • Randomised door codes — no memorising patterns; every run keeps you guessing

    “You know the layout. You know the danger. But nothing is where you left it — and there’s more of them.”

    Protect & Serve — Fight Fire With Fire

    The first paid story DLC transforms how you face the threat — by giving you the means to hit back:

    • New protagonist — step into the boots of a local police officer responding to the crisis
    • Combat arrives — trade the flashlight for a handgun and take the fight to the arachnid swarm
    • New area — explore a previously sealed section of Atherton Labs with its own secrets and threats
    • Fresh narrative — continues the timeline with new characters, tension, and revelations about what went wrong

    This isn’t just more of the same — it’s a fundamental shift from evasion to engagement, delivering a faster, more action-forward flavour of terror.

    What’s Still to Come

    Two cosmetic packs have been teased for release following October 26:

    • Nature Pack — alternative environmental and visual themes
    • More Spiders Pack — new looks and variants for your eight-legged adversaries

    Further details, pricing, and release windows will follow in the coming weeks.

    Release Rundown

    Table

    UpdateDatePrice
    Hardcore ModeOct 26, 2026Free
    Protect & Serve DLCOct 26, 2026TBA
    Nature Pack / More Spiders PackLate 2026TBA
    Base GameAvailable now£12.99 / $15.99 (Steam)

    Wishlist and purchase Huntsman today on Steam — and prepare to either run for your life or stand your ground and fight.

    Find out more about the Huntsman

    #Huntsman #OnTheHouseStudios #TenImagePublishing #HorrorGame #SurvivalHorror #ProtectAndServe #HardcoreMode #PCGaming #Steam #Arachnophobia #IndieHorror #NewDLC #Techmash

  • Depths, Demons & Demos — The Sinking City 2 Rises with Massive 1.1.0 Update!

    Depths, Demons & Demos — The Sinking City 2 Rises with Massive 1.1.0 Update!

    The waters are clearing — and Oakmont is ready for you to dive back in. Developer Frogwares has unleashed Update 1.1.0 for The Sinking City 2, a sweeping overhaul packed with gameplay tweaks, technical upgrades, and more than 150 fixes — plus the return of the Steam demo with a game-changing twist.

    What’s in Update 1.1.0?

    This isn’t a minor patch — it’s a comprehensive refresh built directly on player feedback:

    Visual & Technical Leaps

    • HDR & HDR10+ support across all platforms — richer contrast, deeper shadows, and glowing sunsets over flooded streets
    • AMD FSR 4.1.1 added to PC video settings; NVIDIA DLSS now includes a Legacy mode for smoother switching
    • PS5 Pro support with PSSR upscaling — Quality mode gets strand-based hair, enhanced Lumen lighting and premium reflections; Performance mode renders at higher internal resolution
    • Multi-monitor HDR calibration and refined brightness controls for every display

    Gameplay Refined

    • Combat rebalanced — tougher encounters adjusted, enemy behaviour smoothed, explosive props more useful in group fights
    • Ex Oblivione (post-game mode) overhauled — inventory slots and weapon upgrades now carry across runs; duplicate upgrades grant Dream Essence instead
    • Pure New Game option added — start a completely fresh playthrough after finishing the story
    • Two new unlockable outfits: The Warlock and The King in Yellow for protagonist Calvin Rafferty
    • 150+ fixes — covering performance, stability, puzzles, localisation, and quest flow

    Demo Returns — With Save Carryover

    The Steam demo is back — and better than ever:

    • Progress carries over — play the demo, keep your save, and pick up exactly where you left off in the full game
    • Console trials now live — PlayStation Plus and Xbox players can also try the full opening experience via newly available free trials
    • Perfect for newcomers or anyone who wants to revisit Oakmont before committing to the deeper mysteries

    Quick Facts

    • Update: Version 1.1.0 — free for all players
    • Demo: Live now on Steam; save transfers to full game
    • Console Trials: Available via PlayStation Plus and Xbox
    • Platforms: PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S
    • Developer: Frogwares

    Oakmont holds many secrets — and now it’s a smoother, sharper, more welcoming place to uncover them. Dive in, try the demo, or update and return to the deep.

    The Sinking City 2

    #TheSinkingCity2 #Frogwares #Lovecraftian #SurvivalHorror #GameUpdate #SteamDemo #PS5Pro #Techmash #Gaming

  • Depths, Decay, and Whispering Truth — End of Abyss: Cel Faces What Lurks Beneath the Surface!

    Depths, Decay, and Whispering Truth — End of Abyss: Cel Faces What Lurks Beneath the Surface!

    Descend into the dark — and find out what’s been hiding in the dark. From the minds behind beloved atmospheric adventures comes End of Abyss, a haunting descent into a sprawling, broken facility where nothing is as it seems — and no one you meet is entirely human.

    You step into the boots of Cel, a skilled combat technician sent to investigate strange disturbances deep within a sealed-off underground complex. What begins as a standard mission quickly unravels: your team is cut off, communications fail, and the facility holds secrets far older — and far deadlier — than anyone imagined.

    A World That Has Fallen Silent — and Awoken

    The facility was once a bustling hub of research and containment. Now it lies in ruin. Corridors stretch into shadow, systems groan and flicker back to life, and machines whisper from the depths — fragmented messages, corrupted warnings, and half-formed pleas that hint at what went wrong. Every wall, every console, every shadow carries a piece of the puzzle.

    Nothing Is Fully Human

    The deeper you go, the clearer the horror becomes. The workers, the security units, even the automated systems — they’ve all changed. Twisted, fused, and reborn into something unrecognisable. You’ll face creatures that were once people, and machines that have developed terrifying wills of their own. Survival means staying sharp, upgrading your gear, and never letting your guard down.

    Tech, Tactics, and Truth

    As a combat technician, you’re more than just a fighter — you’re an investigator. Use your scanner to uncover hidden paths, decode corrupted systems, and piece together the full story behind the disaster. Every discovery shifts your understanding of the place — and of yourself. Multiple endings await, shaped by what you find — and what you choose to believe.

    The Descent Changes Everything

    End of Abyss blends tense twin-stick combat, atmospheric exploration, and a story that unfolds through the world itself — no grand speeches, just the quiet, chilling evidence of what happened. The deeper you go, the more you’ll question: can you trust the machines? Can you trust your team? And can you trust yourself?

    The truth is waiting — if you dare to reach the bottom.

    Find out more here

    #EndOfAbyss #Cel #HorrorGames #AtmosphericGaming #PCGaming #SurvivalHorror #IndieGames #techmash

  • Build, Defend, Survive — Death Falls: Zombies Are Coming Revealed!

    Build, Defend, Survive — Death Falls: Zombies Are Coming Revealed!

    Build by day, fight by night — and never let the horde overrun you.

    Independent South African studio MoonCrust has today announced Death Falls: Zombies Are Coming, a tense new twist on tower-defence action where you don’t just watch from the sidelines — you fight alongside your defences. The Steam store page is live now, and the game is set to launch in 2027.

    Daytime Prep

    When the sun is up, you’re busy fortifying your ground:

    • Construct walls, fences, and specialised towers across hand-crafted locations — from forest clearings to abandoned towns
    • Scavenge weapons, resources, and supplies scattered across the map
    • Recruit survivors to help you hold the line and expand your capabilities
    • Repair your mobile RV base — your lifeline and your transport to the next danger zone

    Nighttime War

    When darkness falls, the undead swarm in — and you’re right there in the thick of it:

    • Join the fight personally alongside your defences, wielding shotguns, flamethrowers, chainsaws, and more
    • Adapt on the fly — reinforce failing sections, lure zombies into kill zones, and use the terrain to your advantage
    • Survive the night — hold out until dawn, then move on to the next stop and do it all again, stronger and better prepared

    On the Road

    This isn’t about holding one spot forever — it’s about pushing onward:

    • Each stop is a unique, hand-built environment with its own layout, threats, and resources
    • Fix up your RV between locations to unlock new capabilities and upgrades
    • The horde grows deadlier the further you travel — every decision matters

    Death Falls: Zombies Are Coming blends real-time strategy building with visceral top-down shooter action — and it’s coming to Steam in 2027. Wishlist it now to stay updated.

    Find out more here

    #DeathFalls #ZombiesAreComing #MoonCrust #TowerDefence #IndieDev #SouthAfricanGames #SurvivalHorror #Steam #Techmash

  • Breach, Darkness, Demo — SCP: Project Pneuma Unleashes First Look October 1!

    Breach, Darkness, Demo — SCP: Project Pneuma Unleashes First Look October 1!

    The containment is broken — and the truth is hunting you.

    Indian developer and publisher Zatun has confirmed that the PC demo for SCP: Project Pneuma launches today, October 1, giving players their very first chance to step into the dark, atmospheric depths of this upcoming first-person psychological survival horror.

    Site-63 is gone. You are Dr. Alexander “Alexie” Kolchak, one of the few researchers to survive a catastrophic containment breach. Hunted by elite cleanup forces and surrounded by escaped anomalies, your journey through abandoned facilities, forgotten forests, and isolated research sites is about to begin — and the greatest danger may be your own mind.

    What Awaits in the Demo

    • Atmospheric Dread — Explore crumbling Foundation infrastructure where silence is rarely comforting and every shadow holds a secret
    • Distinct Anomalies — Face SCP-173Z, SCP-939Z, SCP-239Z and more — each with unique behaviours requiring stealth, caution, and quick wits rather than brute force
    • Unravelling Reality — As Alexie pushes deeper, the line between truth and hallucination blurs; sanity-based distortions mean you can’t always trust what you see or hear
    • Investigation & Story — Piece together what happened through journals, voice logs, and environmental clues in the lead-up to the game’s Early Access release

    Built from the ground up as a narrative-driven horror experience, SCP: Project Pneuma blends psychological tension, scarce resources, and stealth-focused survival across multiple chapters — with Chapter 2 already in development alongside the launch build.

    The demo is live right now on Steam. Wishlist the game, step into the breach, and discover how much of the horror is out there — and how much is already inside.

    Find out more here

    #SCPProjectPneuma #Zatun #SCP #HorrorGame #SurvivalHorror #PsychologicalHorror #IndieDev #SteamDemo #Techmash

  • Watch, Run, Survive — CODE EXIT Playtest Goes Live on Steam!

    Watch, Run, Survive — CODE EXIT Playtest Goes Live on Steam!

    Every step is tracked. Every pattern is remembered. Developer Phase 8 Studio and publisher LINE Games have officially launched the playtest for CODE EXIT, a tense sci-fi co-op survival horror game where a rogue AI watches, learns, and hunts. The test runs now through October 19 — and you can request access directly on Steam.

    Minerva Is Watching You

    You’re a Hermes operative dropped into Pantheon, a once-great facility now fallen silent. Your mission: explore, secure critical data, and get out alive. But the facility isn’t empty — Minerva, an advanced artificial intelligence, controls everything. And she doesn’t just follow a script.

    • Adaptive AI — Minerva observes your tactics, remembers your routes, and evolves her hunting patterns. Stick to the same trick twice and she’ll be waiting for you
    • 1–4 player co-op — go solo or team up with friends; the threat scales with your group size
    • Dynamic layouts — no two runs are identical; rooms, objectives, and threats shift every time you enter
    • Fallen but not forgotten — downed players return as MiRO, a supportive drone that can assist the team and be revived
    • Stealth matters — S.O.M.A. awakens only to noise and movement; stay quiet and you might slip past
    • Psychological dread — sophisticated sound design keeps you tense; silence doesn’t mean safety

    What’s New Since May?

    This playtest builds on the well-received earlier demo with major refinements:

    • Three-stage sessions streamlined into one immersive, cohesive experience
    • Clearer, more direct mission objectives replacing overcomplicated puzzles
    • Redesigned co-op mechanics encouraging natural teamwork
    • Smarter, more unpredictable AI behaviour
    • Full online play support throughout the test period

    Playtest Details

    Table

    DetailInfo
    DeveloperPhase 8 Studio
    PublisherLINE Games
    PlatformPC (Steam)
    DatesNow – 19 October 2026
    Players1–4 online co-op
    How to JoinVisit CODE EXIT on Steam ? click “Request Access” under Playtest
    Full Release TargetEarly Access Q1 2027

    Can You Outsmart the Machine?

    Minerva is always learning. The only winning move? Keep changing. Head to the CODE EXIT Steam page now to request access before the test closes on October 19 — and remember: in Pantheon, being predictable is a death sentence.

    Find out more here

    #CODEEXIT #Phase8Studio #LINEGames #SurvivalHorror #CoOpGaming #SteamPlaytest #SciFiHorror #IndieDev #AI #TechMash

  • Racks, Shadows & The Thirteenth Ball — 13th Ball: The Nightmare Shift Demo Drops on Steam!

    Racks, Shadows & The Thirteenth Ball — 13th Ball: The Nightmare Shift Demo Drops on Steam!

    Your shift starts at dusk. It may never end. Independent studio Bumi Studio has unleashed a chilling new free demo for 13th Ball: The Nightmare Shift, inviting horror fans to step behind the bar — and straight into a waking nightmare — right now on Steam. And to mark the occasion, a brand-new trailer has landed to show just how terrifying the night can get.

    What Lurks Behind the Tables?

    You play as Ellie, taking a seemingly ordinary night shift at a run-down pool bar on the edge of town. The work sounds simple: rack the balls, serve the drinks, restock the shelves, mop the floor. But something is very wrong. The glasses you just washed are dirty again. The balls you carefully set up are scattered. And that quiet customer at table three? You never heard the door open.

    The longer you stay, the more reality unravels. Is it exhaustion? Or is something far worse haunting these halls? Every choice, every glance, every secret you uncover will shape what comes next — with multiple endings waiting to be discovered.

    What’s in the Demo?

    • 1–2 hours of gameplay — the full prologue chapter of the game
    • Pool-bar horror — blend regular job duties with supernatural dread in a 1990s-inspired setting
    • Unpredictable events — what’s real and what’s in Ellie’s mind? Keep your eyes open
    • New trailer out now — witness Ellie’s desperation and the bar’s creeping dread in the official demo trailer
    • Completely free — download and play instantly on Steam

    Ready to Clock In?

    The demo is live right now on Steam — add it to your library, wishlist the full game, and see if you can survive the shift. But remember: the doors won’t unlock until you stop looking with your eyes — and start looking with your gut.

    Find out more here

    #13thBall #TheNightmareShift #BumiStudio #HorrorGame #SteamDemo #PsychologicalHorror #IndieHorror #SurvivalHorror #TechMash

  • From Reality to Nightmare — Where Dolls Hang Draws Direct Inspiration from Mexico’s Island of the Dolls

    From Reality to Nightmare — Where Dolls Hang Draws Direct Inspiration from Mexico’s Island of the Dolls

    Steelkrill Studio, the team behind the acclaimed horror title The Backrooms 1998, has pulled back the curtain on the chilling real-world foundation of its upcoming psychological horror experience — Where Dolls Hang.

    This isn’t just another haunted story. The game draws its core inspiration from Isla de las Muñecas — the Island of the Dolls — an infamous, eerie location in Xochimilco, Mexico, where thousands of weathered, decaying dolls hang from trees, buildings, and branches across the island, creating one of the most unsettling real places on Earth.

    Where Fiction Meets a Haunted Reality

    The Island of the Dolls has fascinated and terrified visitors for decades. Originally the isolated home of a lone caretaker, the site became draped in dolls as an offering — and a supposed protection — after the tragic death of a young girl in the nearby canals. Today, it stands as one of Mexico’s most famous and forbidding landmarks, drawing brave visitors and ghost hunters alike.

    Rather than merely taking loose inspiration, Steelkrill Studio has built a tangible bridge between the real world and the game:

    • Dolls and objects in the game are modelled from actual photographs taken on the real island, giving every unsettling figure a genuine real-world counterpart
    • Hidden original photos are scattered throughout the game — spot one, and you’ll see the exact doll that inspired it, hanging in the real location
    • VHS tape sequences incorporate further real-world material, deepening the connection between what you play and what actually exists
    • The game does not simply replicate the island — it uses its atmosphere and legend as the foundation for an entirely new, terrifying narrative world

    What Is Where Dolls Hang?

    In this first-person psychological survival horror, you step into the shoes of a detective sent to investigate a remote location where people have been vanishing. What begins as a missing-persons case deepens into something far darker — and deeply personal — as you uncover secrets, explore waterlogged swamps by boat, and face the things that watch from the shadows.

    “They don’t just hang there. They look.”

    • Explore a living, hostile wilderness where dolls, mannequins, and unnatural figures appear where they shouldn’t
    • Gather evidence, examine scenes, and piece together the truth behind the disappearances — and your own connection to them
    • Navigate flooded waterways and isolated reaches of the island by boat
    • Survive the encroaching darkness as night falls and the atmosphere shifts from unsettling to terrifying

    Game Details

    Table

    TitleWhere Dolls Hang
    Developer / PublisherSteelkrill Studio
    GenrePsychological Survival Horror
    PlatformPC (Steam)
    Release Window2026
    InspirationIsla de las Muñecas, Xochimilco, Mexico

    Prepare yourself: some nightmares don’t come from imagination. They come from somewhere real. And now they’re waiting for you.

    Find out more here

    #WhereDollsHang #SteelkrillStudio #HorrorGames #PsychologicalHorror #SurvivalHorror #IslandOfTheDolls #IslaDeLasMuñecas #MexicanHorror #PCGaming #Steam #IndieHorror #techmash

  • Keep Quiet or Die: Voidwood’s New Gameplay Shows the Danger of Speaking Up

    Keep Quiet or Die: Voidwood’s New Gameplay Shows the Danger of Speaking Up

    Co-op survival horror fans have a chilling new title to keep on their radar. Developer Santa Barbara Games—a team founded by industry veterans hailing from EA, Riot Games, and Bethesda—has released terrifying new gameplay footage for Voidwood, their upcoming PC title where your real-world voice is your greatest tool and your deadliest mistake.

    A Charming Dream Turned Nightmarish Reality

    At first glance, Voidwood draws you in with a deceptively whimsical, Studio Ghibli-esque art style. Players take on the roles of children trapped in a mysterious, cursed forest. However, don’t let the enchanting visuals fool you; this game is pure horror at its core.

    The gameplay loops around a tense day-and-night cycle:

    • By Day: You and up to three friends (1–4 players total) scavenge the forest for supplies, craft vital survival tools, and search for clues left behind by the children who vanished before you. The deeper you venture into the woods, the richer the rewards, but the risk grows exponentially as the sun dips below the horizon.
    • By Night: Scavenging ends and pure survival begins. Nightfall summons “The Beast”—an unkillable, horrifying apex predator that stalks the forest. Fighting back isn’t an option. Your only goals are hiding, outrunning the creature, and making it back to camp alive.

    Speak Carefully: The Forest is Listening

    What sets Voidwood apart from standard co-op horror games is its heavy reliance on proximity voice chat and spatial audio. To coordinate strategies, share supplies, or alert friends to impending danger, you have to talk into your microphone.

    However, Voidwood‘s audio mechanics mean monsters—especially The Beast—can hear every whisper, footstep, and panicked scream.

    Shouting to warn a teammate across a clearing might save their life, but it will pinpoint your exact location for the creatures lurking in the dark. The newly revealed gameplay footage highlights this agonising dynamic: players must balance essential communication with total silence, forcing teams to whisper, use subtle signals, or even make the grim decision to use noise as a distraction (sacrificing one player so the rest can slip away).

    Camp Upgrades and Endless Replayability

    Surviving the night allows teams to regroup at their central camp, a safe haven where lower-tier creatures refuse to enter due to the campfire’s light. Here, players can use scavenged resources to upgrade their camp, craft advanced gear, and plan their next excursion. Because every successful run dynamically alters forest conditions, no two nights play out the same way.

    Voidwood is slated for release on PC via Steam in 2027, with playtests and public hands-on demos kicking off. If you’re a fan of high-stakes co-op horror games like Lethal Company or Phasmophobia, Voidwood promises a fresh, voice-driven twist that will test your team’s discipline—and your friendships.

    Find out more here

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