Raw Tale Games recently dropped a new devlog for its long-in-development medieval job sim Dreadwoods Gatekeeper, which is currently in development for release on Steam. Likened to Papers, Please with an atmospheric horror twist, the devlog dives into various aspects of the game, which main developer Darko describes as a “combination of story, horror, atmosphere, and simulation elements”.
Dreadwoods Gatekeeper sees you take on the role of a young army recruit who’s not the greatest at his job. To compensate for your lack of training, you choose to take on the job of gatekeeper for an isolated gate outpost in the Dreadwoods region. Your job is simple: inspect travelers, their documents, and the goods in their wagons before decide to let them through. At the same time, you’ll also be doing maintenance of the old gatehouse, and keeping yourself and your animal companions fed.
Needless to say, the locals talk of how the outpost is cursed, but you don’t believe it. You soon start to change your mind, as something doesn’t feel quite right about this place. Are you truly alone here? Could there be something supernatural lurking in the shadows? It’s up to you to uncover the truth while carrying out your duties and surviving the eerie nights.
Currently, the game has been in development since 2024. Raw Tale Games is currently planning future playtests for Dreadwoods Gatekeeper, which you can currently track for updates via the mailing list.