Saturnalia is a new psychedelic survival horror – coming just in time for Halloween

The season of chills and thrills is just around the corner and there’s a chance that gamers will be clamouring to take in the most immersive, scariest experiences in the lead up to Halloween. Saturnalia should quite possibly be one of those games. 

Due to launch on the Epic Games Store for PC, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch, Saturnalia will release on October 27th 2022. 

It’s an exploration-based horror adventure from the Santa Ragione team as they whisk players off to 1989 and the Sardinia region of Italy.  From there Saturnalia will play as a kaleidoscopic adventure inspired in equal parts by authentic Sardinian folklore and classic Italian giallo horror films.

Having already picked up an honorable mention at the Seamus McNally Grand Prize at the 2022 Independent Games Festival and as a nominee for the Grand Prize at the 2021 A MAZE, the story involves a mysterious, centuries-old ritual that occurs every year on the night of the winter solstice in the Italian village of Gravoi. Each of the game’s four playable characters must utilize their unique abilities and confront their own personal revelations in order to expose the secrets haunting the town and ultimately escape their doom.

Developed and published by that Santa Ragione team, all in collab with Big Trouble, the key features of Saturnalia will sit as follows…

• Seek clues in a maze-like village with no markers or compass to guide your steps.
• Explore the ever-changing town of Gravoi using matches to keep the dark at bay.
• Flight and stealth are your only options, as you cannot fight the creature that hunts you.
• Immerse yourself in the stop-motion animation and vibrant expressionist art style of Saturnalia for an eerily beautiful atmosphere that is as enthralling as it is chilling.
• Control your fate through non-linear progression and a dynamic, adaptive narrative, with unique endgames dependent on player choices.

We’ll be sure to remind you when that October 27th release date arrives. For now though, take in the new release date trailer, if you dare…