Vertpaint Games dropped by the Future Game Showcase with a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming Lovecraftian horror title Ritual Tides. The game is being built by a veteran team praised by Blizzard’s former director Jonathan Berube as “the Seal Team of Game Development,” and backed by acclaimed horror author Adam Nevill, who has supported the game’s script, and horror creator Daz Games.
The newly released trailer provides the first glimpse of gameplay from the title, showcasing the haunting world of Hortus – a remote British island in the 1800s where players awaken alone on unforgiving shores and must navigate bleak countryside, abandoned settlements, and the decaying remains of a once-thriving community.
Ritual Tides is being developed with the ambition of “delivering visual fidelity that surpasses many modern AAA productions.” To support the game’s unique traversal and combat design, Vertpaint rebuilt its core first-person systems and combat mechanics from the ground up, enabling a deeply immersive and atmospheric horror experience.
The title is also being developed using what the team describes as a “two stream” approach. This translates into design and game mechanics being prioritised alongside art research and development. As avid gamers and horror fans, the team at Vertpaint is looking to craft something “genuinely memorable” for players. Enemy variation is central to the development ethos, and unlike other horror focused titles, Ritual Tides will provide a wealth of encounters.
Ritual Tides is currently in development for PC via Steam, with console versions also planned for launch this year. Ahead of wishlisting being available, you can check out some of the game’s concept art from the official site.