Video Games
Battle Hell Itself in Tactical Turn-Based RPG ‘Entropy’ [Trailer]
Fans of Lovely Hellplace will be pleased to know that the Dread Delusion developer is back, this time drawing inspiration from old-school JRPGs to bring you Entropy, a post-apocalyptic tactical turn-based RPG. Published by DreadXP, the game sees your troupe of up to six mercenaries journeying to Hell itself to halt the demonic invasion plaguing their world.
Carrying the same retro aesthetics as Dread Delusion, Entropy takes place in a world where only pockets of humanity remain. There was no grand apocalyptic event to speak of; only the cruel march of time and the inexplicable infertility of the world. Creatures stalk the barren lands between the squalid medieval settlements, which are mostly ruled by tyrants.
In the town of Draenog, your theatre performance interrupted by fighting at the gates. Demons have arrived. Your wooden prop sword will have to do for now, as your expedition to hell to stop the demonic onslaught will take you across an expansive world map, littered with explorable towns filled with a variety of characters.
As one would expect, as you progress on your quest, you will level up your characters, increase your stats, and unlock new perks. Should members of your party fall, you can hire Mercenaries to replace them.
Entropy is expected to launch on Steam in 2026. For those heading to PAX West later this week, Lovely Hellplace will have a demo available for Entropy at the DreadXP booth.
Video Games
Immerse Yourself in Mystery with Narrative-Driven Folk Horror Title ‘The Polar Darkness’ [Trailer]
Independent developer Horsefly Games has announced their own brand of folk horror with The Polar Darkness, a narrative-driven mystery inspired by Finnish folklore, classic investigative adventures, and cosmic horror. Accompanying the announcement is the first trailer, which offers the first look at the game’s visual style, mystery-driven gameplay, and isolated northern Finnish setting.
Coming to Steam next year, the game is set during the polar night (Kaamos) of 1980s northern Finland. Players take on the role of journalist Emma Järvelä as she travels to the isolated village of Sysiluoma to investigate a controversial revival movement led by a charismatic cult leader and her child preacher. When the child mysteriously disappears during a sermon, and a blizzard cuts off all contact with the outside world, Emma becomes trapped in a community where every resident seems to be hiding a different version of the truth.
The Polar Darkness emphasizes investigation, dialogue, observation, and deduction. Players will question villagers, gather clues, solve environmental puzzles, and piece together a mystery rooted in local history, folklore, and something ancient buried somewhere deep.
“Classic mystery adventures such as Gabriel Knight were a major inspiration,” said Juho Kuorikoski, creator of The Polar Darkness. “I wanted to create a story that captures that sense of investigation, folklore, and slow-burning dread, but through a distinctly Finnish lens.”
The story unfolds across three days using a time-based structure mechanic. Complete tasks and objectives to advance the game’s internal clock. Characters move and events change as time passes, and choices determine what you see and what you miss. Each playthrough reveals a different perspective on the truth.
The game features a distinct visual presentation that combines photographic 2D characters based on real actors to atmospheric 3D environments. Complementing the visuals is a soundtrack heavily inspired by Finnish folk music, composed and performed by Finnish folk artists.