Fans of horror experiences should pay close attention to the upcoming release ofDark Mass, with the project being the latest deeply unsettling and claustrophobic horror game centered around the ocean. Coming from a studio with a proven track record of sinister gameplay experiences, the recent announcement ofDark Massis already drawing heaps of attention, and for good reason.
The earliest revealed details ofDark Masshave already drawn comparisons between the project and similar aquatic survival and horror games such asSubnauticaandIron Lung, with these well-received titles being a testament to the near-endless horror opportunities that huge bodies of water can create. While fans still have some time to wait before being able to experience the underwater terror ofDark Mass, it is definitely a project that is worth getting excited about.
Dark Mass Puts its Own Twist on the Aquatic Horror Genre
Dark Massis being developed by Spanish indie studio Path Games, which found success with 2022’sInsomnis, a first-person horror puzzle game set in an unwelcoming mansion inherited by the player character.Insomniscurrently possesses a Very Positive review score on Steam, with the studio now turning its hand to the ocean depths for its anticipated follow-up to the atmospheric horror genre.
The premise ofDark Masssees the game’s protagonist dive to the ocean floor in search of the ruins of a grand manor house, eerily finding the home standing structurally intact on the ocean bed, albeit ravaged by ocean life. Communicating with a rescue boat on the surface while swimming through the manor’s decaying floors,Dark Mass' story asks the player to uncover the sinister secrets of the sunken manor while surviving against the demonic drowned souls that still inhabit it. Intense exploration and puzzle-solving are at the heart of uncovering the truth ofDark Mass' narrative, with each puzzle adding context to the terrifying entity that haunts every corner of the manor.
Dark Mass Offers No Respite to Players From the Horrors of the Ocean
A unique element ofDark Massis that the game takes place entirely underwater, with the player being given no breathing room away from the murky and claustrophobic depths of the ocean.Dark Massseems inspired by a hybrid blend of other ocean-based gaming experiences through its core gameplay, with its first-person perspective and looming unease around hidden threats in the depths being quite reminiscent ofthe massively successful 2014 title,Subnautica.
While not strictly a horror game, the uncomfortable nature ofSubnautica’s vast ocean and its gargantuan inhabitants have given the title an unofficial horror label.
Dark Massalso has shades of another cult-classic indie title, 2022’sIron Lung, which saw players blindly navigate a makeshift submarine through an ocean of blood on an alien moon. The claustrophobic and immersive aspects ofIron Lungseem quite in-line withDark Mass, with the tight corridors and cluttered rooms of the game’s underwater manor offering the same level of nailbiting tension.Dark Massis currently being developed using Unreal Engine 5, with the player’s choice of how to handle certain situations also having a direct result on the title’s branching narrative.
As things stand,Dark Massis aiming for a 2026 release window, eventually launching for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. The comparisons thatDark Massis already drawing from such successful past titles place some pretty big expectations on the game, yet judging from the early gameplay footage of the title, fans of aquatic horror are in for a truly unforgettable and immersive experience that cannot be missed.
