Eschalism is an upcoming survival horror game from Indonesia that introduces a darker, politically charged vision of the genre. Developed by IHTN, this indie title places players inside a dystopian version of Indonesia that never achieved independence. Instead of relying on familiar zombie scenarios, the game focuses on cosmic fear, psychological pressure, and spatial distortion to build tension.
Sane or Not?
The world of Eschalism, a survival horror game, takes place in an alternate history where the Verenigd Oost Indische Kyōdō Tō maintains control through a dual Dutch and Japanese colonial regime. The fictional V.O.K. government enforces strict control, censorship, and psychological suppression across the nation. This setting shapes the atmosphere by combining institutional brutality with supernatural dread, creating a world that feels oppressive and unstable.
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The narrative centers on Sane, a Paramita officer who investigates a cosmic worshipping cult while searching for his missing wife. As the investigation expands, the story shifts from political tension to cosmic terror. The setting steadily blends real historical influence with surreal horror, giving the game a grounded but disturbing identity.
Investigate, Suffer
The narrative in Eschalism survival horror game focuses on identity, grief, and psychological breakdown. Sane’s role as both investigator and victim creates a dual perspective that deepens emotional engagement. As the story unfolds, memories, hallucinations, and environmental storytelling replace traditional cutscenes, making the player an active participant in piecing together the truth.
The cult at the center of the story does not rely on standard horror villain design. Instead, it operates as an ideological force that manipulates fear as a resource. This allows the story to explore broader themes of control, faith, and human vulnerability. The result is a narrative that feels slow, disturbing, and intellectually grounded.
Iso To POV
Combat in Eschalism survival horror game shifts dynamically between isometric and first person views. This system allows wider battlefield awareness in isometric mode while offering precision aiming in first person. The transition happens seamlessly during encounters, creating a combat rhythm that feels tactical and reactive. This mechanic encourages strategic positioning rather than constant movement.
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Enemies represent manifestations of primal human fears shaped by the cult’s influence. Each creature design focuses on disrupting player comfort through irregular movement patterns and unpredictable behavior. Every bullet counts, and careless firing often leads to quick resource depletion. This design supports the survival horror structure while still delivering action focused intensity.
Psycho Vis
The visual design of Eschalism survival horror game creates environments that feel real at first glance and slowly warp over time. Hallways stretch beyond logical limits, rooms twist into impossible angles, and doorways open into places that defy physical rules. The game draws inspiration from spatial horror concepts such as unstable architecture and builds fear through environmental uncertainty instead of relying on scripted jump scares.
Lighting shapes tension throughout each area. Limited light sources and deep shadow zones actively block visibility and pressure players to move with caution. The visual style uses sharp contrasts, muted color palettes, and geometric inconsistency to strengthen psychological tension and reinforce the game’s core themes.
Pressure Is Up
Eschalism survival horror game combines action, adventure, and survival horror into a unified loop. It uses resource management conventions that reward careful exploration instead of aggressive combat. Ammunition, healing items, and tools remain limited, which forces players to weigh every interaction. This structure keeps the pacing slow and deliberate even during combat encounters.
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The game also reflects design ideas seen in titles like Resident Evil and Control, especially in its balance between combat pressure and environmental storytelling. While those games influenced the foundation, Eschalism pushes further into non Euclidian level flow and camera perspective shifts. This gives the game a recognizable framework while keeping its identity distinct.
Search The Fear!
The game is already available on Steam for wishlist and future download. Players who enjoy survival horror, alternate history settings, and experimental level design can find it by searching for Eschalism on the platform and preparing to download it as soon as it becomes available.
Reference:
Ihaten Studios – Game Developer
Eschalism Steampage
Eschalism Trailer
