Ex-Rockstar dev's chilling new psychological horror could be the next Silent Hill – even in a rough design build

At Gamescom, Vertpaint’s creative director James Macleod handed journalists a non‑polished level‑design build of Ritual Tides after the intended demo crashed. The build, intended only for internal testing, still let players explore the mist‑shrouded coastal town of Hortus, wield a battered melee weapon with a durability meter, and experiment with a weight‑sensitive gun and a hand‑hold climbing system that requires trigger pressure. Macleod emphasized the game’s narrative focus on a woman awakening on a beach and confronting a grotesque history tied to the island, positioning the title as a body‑horror experience that leans heavily on female perspective—a choice he says made securing a publisher “really tricky” because of the subject matter’s darkness.

The presentation situates Ritual Tides within a crowded horror market where big franchises such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil set the benchmark for atmosphere and first‑person dread. By blending Silent Hill’s oppressive fog, Resident Evil 7/Village’s visceral combat, and a hyper‑realistic environmental aesthetic, Vertpaint aims to differentiate itself through meticulous world‑building—evident in chalk‑like sea‑salt markings that replace traditional HUD cues—and a narrative that foregrounds gendered fear. This approach mirrors a recent wave of indie and mid‑tier studios (e.g., Bloober Team, Supermassive Games) that prioritize psychological depth and inclusive storytelling over pure jump‑scares, hoping to capture both hardcore horror fans and players seeking fresh thematic angles.

If the level‑design build is any indication, Ritual Tides will demand a publisher willing to back a niche, potentially polarizing premise, which could delay its launch beyond the unspecified 2024 window. The broken demo at a major expo risks shaping early public perception negatively, yet the raw build also demonstrates the team’s technical ambition—particularly the physics‑heavy weapon handling and climbing mechanics—that could attract a partnership with a publisher focused on next‑gen console experiences. Watch for announcements regarding a stable demo, a publishing deal, and whether the developers will retain the sparse HUD and durability systems in the final release, as those choices will heavily influence the game’s market positioning and replayability.