Dark Mass: Deep Sea Horror Inspiration Exposed

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Hailing from independent Spanish game studio Path Games, the upcoming horror title dubbed as “Dark Mass” takes place entirely underwater with an intriguing concept. This chilling experience is designed for first-person gameplay, boasting realistic graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5. Unlike typical sea-based horror games, Dark Mass focuses on a more extensive journey lasting around four to six hours. It blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and an immersive narrative where the choices you make will significantly impact the storyline.

In the immersive game titled “Dark Mass“, players step into the role of Alice, a seasoned deep-sea explorer. Accompanied by her brother Reed, she stumbles upon an ancient submerged manor that has lain hidden for centuries. Upon entering this ominous structure, Alice realizes she is not alone; a sinister presence dwells within the haunted mansion.

Comparisons have been made between “Dark Mass” and other underwater horror games such as “Subnautica” and “Iron Lung“, but the developers’ inspiration extends far beyond these titles. The world of “Dark Mass” is instead shaped by both cinematic influences and genuine historical events, as revealed in a recent interview with Virginia Calvo and Gonzalo G. Luna, co-founders and designers of the game at Path Games.

How Dark Mass Pays Tribute to Iconic Horror Films

According to Calvo and Luna, the creative minds behind Path Games chose to draw inspiration from their passion for horror movies in the development of Dark Mass. This project is a tribute to iconic chilling productions like Rosemary’s Baby, Twin Peaks, and Jaws. They mentioned that cinema serves as their primary source of inspiration. The idea for Dark Mass’ unique first-person underwater perspective was already brewing in the developers’ minds while they were working on Insomnis, their initial horror game set to release in early 2022. However, it was the movie The Deep House from 2021 that provided the final motivation for them to commence work on Dark Mass.

The Deep House” is a chilling horror movie set in France, where a young couple gets ensnared in a house submerged at the lake’s bottom, haunted by an ominous force. Similarly, “Dark Mass” follows protagonist Alice as she explores a manor hidden deep within the ocean. A malevolent entity is bound to the manor under an ancient curse, and Alice must uncover its heartbreaking history and escape before it’s too late. In addition to being a survival horror game, “Dark Mass” offers a brain-teasing adventure filled with puzzles. One such challenge requires Alice to solve riddles based on historical torture methods from the Spanish Inquisition as just one example.

Beyond the plotline, Calvo and Luna mentioned that certain atmospheric sounds in “Dark Mass” were inspired by the ominous music found in horror films such as “Sinister.

The Real-Life Inspirations Behind Dark Mass

In the creation process of “Dark Mass”, Calvo and Luna’s team discovered that horror narratives are more effective when they seem realistic. This is where elements from their personal lives proved useful. As Path Games is situated in Spain, the team saw it fitting to incorporate this country as the backdrop for “Dark Mass”.

When creating the game’s plot and villain, we felt it essential to have a strong, authentic background. Given our Spanish heritage, we can easily access historical sites with traces of the past, which we aimed to incorporate into the game to add an element of realism.

In the creation of Dark Mass, the developers incorporate actual historical details but have chosen to incorporate some imaginative twists as well, maintaining the enigmatic quality of the game. Additionally, it’s important to mention that the game will offer voice-overs in both English and Spanish.

Insomnis Also Taught the Developers a Few Tricks

Following their first horror title, ‘Insomnis’, Path Games is now presenting ‘Dark Mass’. While ‘Insomnis’ has garnered “Very Positive” reviews on Steam, the creators, Calvo and Luna, acknowledge that insights gained from ‘Insomnis’ were instrumental in shaping ‘Dark Mass’. The world-building for ‘Dark Mass’ was set upon these lessons. Players can expect a more engaging and exploratory experience with ‘Dark Mass’, as it aims to deliver a compelling horror storyline with impactful decision-making elements.

Instead of relying on 200 low-cost shock moments, we aim to create a story so compelling that players can easily summarize it in just two phrases. Furthermore, we strive to infuse every aspect of the game with our deep love and devotion for the art of cinema.

The game titled Dark Mass doesn’t currently have a set release date, however, Path Games plans to launch it during the autumn season of 2026. Calvo and Luna also hinted that the upcoming trailer will disclose additional information, but fans must be patient for a little while longer before they can see it.

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2025-03-29 22:57