Game publisher Shiro Unlimited has announced a new horror game titled Decarnation, featuring a crisp pixel art style and unsettling body horror.
In 1990s Paris, Gloria is a down-on-her-luck cabaret dancer. Her luck seems to change when a mysterious patron proposes an experimental creative project, but Gloria doesn’t realize just how over her head she’s getting.
You can check out the announcement trailer for Decarnation below.
Where do you run when the monsters are chasing you from inside your mind?
Overview
Explore a haunting world, both real and metaphorical, and find the keys needed to battle inner and outer monsters. Get caught up in an intensely emotional story unfolding in a malignant, elaborate setting. Experience diverse gameplay featuring twisted puzzles, threatening creatures, lovecraftian environments, and metaphorical minigames.
Decarnation takes inspiration from the best 2D adventure-horror and survival-horror games from the past eras, as well as cult movies from Satoshi Kon (Perfect Blue) and David Lynch (Mulholland Drive).
Story
Paris, 1990. Gloria is at the end of her rope. A struggling cabaret dancer dealing with the fraying of her relationships, career, and self-esteem, she takes on a new artistic endeavor sponsored by a mysterious benefactor. Would the generous proposal be Gloria’s lucky break, or something worse?
A survival story with layered psychological stakes, Decarnation explores the contrast between battling limitations in the physical realm, and the subconscious landscapes one can’t escape.
Decarnation is an emotional, startling story-driven experience that will keep you on your toes until the very end.
Gameplay
Decarnation mixes traditional survival horror elements (cryptic puzzle to solve, inhospitable environments to explore, lethal predators to avoid, terrifying boss to defeat, etc.) with a wide variety of symbolic minigames (puzzles, reflexes, rhythm, etc.) accounting for real life situations (performing a cabaret show on stage) or metaphorical ones.
Once uncovered, key elements of Gloria’s life aid her in defeating monsters in her dreams in unique battles that marry the grotesque and the sublime to represent her struggle for survival. Overcoming challenges in her dreams strengthens Gloria against real life difficulties, and her real life issues create new challenges in her dreams.
Steam
Currently, Decarnation is expected to release next year on PC. It’s unknown at the time if any console ports are in the works.
