This main game, released in September 2010, is available on PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It is categorized within the Puzzle, Adventure, and Indie genres, with a significant focus on survival horror. Players assume the role of Daniel, who awakens in the desolate Prussian Brennenburg Castle in 1839 with amnesia. His only guidance is a self-written note instructing him to descend into the castle's Inner Sanctum and confront a figure named Alexander. The note also warns of an inescapable pursuer, a "living nightmare" that necessitates stealth and evasion for survival.

Setting and Atmosphere

The game immerses players in the oppressive and decaying environment of Brennenburg Castle. The narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling and scattered notes, gradually revealing Daniel's forgotten past and the dark secrets held within the castle walls. The atmosphere is characterized by its pervasive sense of dread, with a focus on psychological horror rather than overt jump scares. Sound design plays a crucial role in building tension, with creaking floorboards, distant whispers, and the unsettling sounds of unseen threats contributing to the overall feeling of vulnerability.

Core Gameplay Mechanics

At its heart, this game is about exploration, puzzle-solving, and survival through evasion. Players must navigate the dark, labyrinthine corridors of the castle, managing limited resources such as oil for their lantern and tinderboxes to illuminate their surroundings. A key mechanic is the sanity system; remaining in darkness for too long, witnessing disturbing events, or being pursued by monsters will degrade Daniel's sanity, leading to visual and auditory hallucinations that can hinder progress and increase the sense of peril.

What makes this game unique?

The game's defining feature is its deliberate removal of combat mechanics. Players are intentionally disempowered, unable to confront the monstrous entities that stalk the castle. This forces a reliance on environmental interaction, hiding, and careful observation to survive. The emphasis on managing sanity and the psychological impact of the environment on the player's perception are central to its horror experience. The narrative is delivered in a way that encourages player interpretation and discovery, making the journey through the castle a deeply personal and unsettling experience.

Exploration and Puzzle Solving

Progress through Brennenburg Castle is gated by a variety of environmental puzzles. These often involve finding specific items, manipulating mechanisms, or deciphering clues left behind by the castle's former inhabitants. The puzzles are integrated into the environment and narrative, requiring players to pay close attention to their surroundings and the lore presented.

Resource Management

Players must carefully manage their limited supply of light sources. The lantern requires oil, and tinderboxes are needed to ignite it. These resources are scarce, forcing players to make difficult decisions about when and where to use them, often plunging themselves into darkness to conserve supplies.

Sanity System

Maintaining Daniel's mental state is a critical gameplay element. Witnessing terrifying events or prolonged exposure to darkness will cause his sanity to deteriorate. This manifests as distorted visuals, auditory hallucinations, and an increased vulnerability to the castle's horrors, adding a layer of psychological challenge to the survival aspect.