You Won’t Survive the Darkest Depths of the Ocean

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In the pursuit of adding another intriguing immersive survival horror game to the roster, Dark Mass is an upcoming creation by the studio based in Spain, Path Games. Dark Mass invites gamers on a chilling first-person underwater journey of exploration. Enthusiasts will experience the story through Alice’s eyes, a deep-sea explorer who discovers a submerged manor inhabited by a menacing unseen force.

In the game titled “Dark Mass“, players are tasked with untangling chilling puzzles that draw heavily from historical torture techniques, all while navigating adversaries, encroaching darkness, and grappling with moral choices that will shape Alice’s destiny. Given that the narrative of “Dark Mass” primarily unfolds beneath the waves, the creative minds at Path Studio took great care to tap into fears like thalassophobia (fear of drowning in deep waters) and claustrophobia during development. Game Rant recently had a conversation with co-founders and developers of “Dark Mass“, Virginia Calvo and Gonzalo G. Luna, to discuss the challenges of constructing a foreboding underwater realm.

How Path Games Pushed the Boundaries of Deep Sea Phobias in Dark Mass

As per Calvo and Luna’s findings, many immersive horror games primarily operate within a horizontal plane using X and Z axes. However, the creators of Dark Mass chose a distinct approach to intensify feelings of claustrophobia by focusing on vertical exploration instead. The developers elaborated that this decision was made to emphasize height and space restrictions.

Through incorporating a sense of depth and height, we took claustrophobia to unprecedented heights. The environment is no longer simply expansive; it’s profound, characterized by tight corridors and vast vertical areas that amplify the feeling of unease.

In the game “Dark Mass“, one significant topic is the fear of deep waters, or thalassophobia. Since most of the game unfolds underwater, players might need to conquer their apprehension about drowning to some extent. However, the creators assure us that while the game aims to evoke a sense of eeriness, it won’t be frustratingly challenging.

One key feature in the game Dark Mass is the radio communication system. As Alice navigates, she’ll converse with her brother Reed, who offers assistance on puzzles and decision-making. Moreover, Calvo and Luna mention that the radio system not only heightens immersion but also serves as a stress reliever, helping to combat the sensation of loneliness experienced while underwater exploration.

The Challenges Behind Dark Mass’ Submarine World

To delve deeper into creating an immersive underwater experience, the development team tackled the complexities of underwater physics, which Calvo and Luna noted was quite demanding. Despite the time constraints, they ensured that every object in the game obeyed consistent, realistic rules to make the world of Dark Mass feel authentic. As they pointed out, horror is more impactful when it’s rooted in a degree of realism. Managing realistic underwater lighting was another hurdle, as light behaves uniquely beneath the sea.

As you delve deeper, sunlight becomes scarce, causing colors to blur into hues of blue and green. This poses a distinct problem when it comes to navigation for players, since bright visual signals aren’t as effective. However, we’ve devised solutions using devices like walkie-talkies and other strategies to prevent players from feeling utterly disoriented.

In the style of many horror video games, sound will significantly influence the gameplay experience of Dark Mass. Designers Calvo and Luna have created distinct audio levels tailored for each setting, providing suitable sounds for intense sequences as well as tranquil moments.

In terms of additional interactive gameplay elements, the choice system in Dark Mass results in various conclusions. Unlike many decision-based horror games, the creators emphasize that not all choices are text-based within Dark Mass. Instead, some decisions revolve around the extent of exploration within the manor or whether certain items have been found. Contrarily, Calvo and Luna mention that replaying the game isn’t a primary focus for the team; rather, they aim to ensure players have an immersive experience during their initial playthrough.

In the initial trailer for “Dark Mass”, an ominous adversary resembling a corpse was seen lurking within a spooky manor. Characters Calvo and Luna hint that there will be additional monstrous entities unveiled in upcoming previews, as well as enhanced interactive gameplay features to come.

The game titled “Dark Mass” is currently being worked on for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, aiming for a launch within the autumn season of 2026.

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2025-03-30 03:26