Solo developer Vincent Adinolfi and publisher DreadXP have revealed that their love letter to 90s horror classics will be arriving this spring on PC via Steam. And if you haven’t checked it out, Heartworm has a demo available from last October’s Steam Next Fest. The new trailer announcing the release window also gives a glimpse at some of the gameplay, including the camera-based combat, exploration, and puzzles.
Heartworm pays tribute to Survival Horror classics Silent Hill, Resident Evil and Dino Crisis, and centres on a woman named Sam. Grief-stricken over the death of her beloved grandfather, Sam falls down an internet rabbit hole, driven by the hope of reconnecting with him. Following a lead from a mysterious forum, she ventures to a supposedly supernatural house in the mountains, desperate to make contact with the other side.
Described as a journey through grief and loss, Heartworm features 4-6 hours of gameplay with multiple endings, as well as a focus on exploration with classic puzzles and limited combat using a camera as a weapon. The game will feature a modern control scheme with 3rd person over-the-shoulder aiming and optional classic tank controls, as well as optional pixelation and retro effects calling back to those Survival Horror classics for a more “authentic” experience.
No word yet on if Heartworm will be coming to consoles.