Video Games
Survival Horror and Base Management Meet Lovecraft in ‘Edge of Sanity’ [Trailer]
Someone at Vixa Games must have gotten the memo that we need more Lovecraftian-based video games. And that’s definitely what we’re getting with Edge of Sanity, which made its debut during the Gamescom Future Games Now show with an appropriately horrifying trailer.
Edge of Sanity (which you can wishlist on Steam now) is a survival horror adventure whose intense atmosphere belies its 2D art style. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft and set in the unforgiving wilderness of Alaska during the Cold War, players will engaging in survival and base management mechanics, as well as conducting expeditions. Said expeditions lead you to the discovery of local cultists and monsters hiding around a remote mountain valley. That’s where the fun begins.
Use anything you find to stand a chance against these Eldritch horrors, uncover secrets of the mysterious Thurul Stone, and unveil a tragic story of missing scientists. Learn your enemies weaknesses, impair their senses, manage resources and make use of crafting abilities and the surrounding to survive against them. Even if you’re out of options, you can always rely on your trusty ax, but don’t be surprised if things don’t get in your favour.
You’ve also still got a base to manage in all of this. Find and assign remaining survivors, and send them out on missions to find food, water, or other survivors. But don’t let your guard down, as people on the edge of madness tend to have “difficulties”.
Back in April, Studio Abattoir revealed its psychological horror title The Pines. Flash forward to today, and the developer has announced a 2027 release window for the game, along with a brand new gameplay trailer offering a fresh look at a picturesque therapy retreat that plays host to unstable residents, dangerous secrets and deep conspiracies.
Blending freeform exploration and the character progression of an open-world RPG with tense, oppressive psychological horror, intuitive investigative gameplay and brutal combat, The Pines sees players take on the role of Edward Walker, a former detective seeking solace at The Pines – a remote forest retreat that promises peace, therapy, and recovery. But behind the facade of warm smiles, cheerful signage, and carefully crafted image lies something far more disturbing, which will pull Edward headfirst into a surreal, paranoid and dizzying mystery with echoes of his past.
In The Pines, narrative, exploration, roleplaying, and tension constantly feed into one another. Every action taken will not only shape Edward and his investigation, but also the fates of those that he meets. A customisable skill and perk system gives players the opportunity to expand their skillset and character build in multiple facets, giving a much-needed advantage as they fall deeper down the rabbit hole.
This customisation is further reinforced by branching, choice-drive dialogue with NPCs, allowing players to be the detective they want to be: empathetic, aggressive, manipulative, or something in between. Throughout the game, players will take advantage of Edward’s detective prowess to investigate a number of crime scenes. Here they will gather evidence and make crucial connections and to uncover hidden truths and ultimately, decide who to trust. There is no wrong approach to the investigation, but there will always be consequences.
Say the wrong thing or dig too deep, and a resident who once seemed harmless may return as a Stalker – a persistent, powerful enemy that haunts players throughout the forests of The Pines. An unexpected visit from a Stalker can transform routine exploration into a heart-pounding fight for survival in the blink of an eye.
Currently, you can wishlist the game on Steam.