The upcoming horror game, This Is Not For You, from Mexico-based studio Interactive Dreams, invites players into a non-Euclidean lighthouse that defies logic and drains their very essence. Inspired by Mark Z. Danielewski's 'House of Leaves,' the game casts players as Ulysses, a shipwrecked sailor who encounters a lighthouse that is larger on the inside and operates on illogical spatial principles. Movement within the lighthouse can lead players in unexpected directions; heading north might result in arriving in the south, and exiting a room could place the player at the ocean's depths.
The primary objective for players is to deactivate the lighthouse, a sinister goal that involves disabling the very mechanism that traps others within its labyrinthine structure. Among the inhabitants encountered are a magician who has lost his powers and a diver with amnesia. The game also features letters from a character named Aura, which players can choose to burn. The Steam page suggests that patience may reveal truths, and the narrative hints at Homeric parallels, potentially inviting comparisons to Ulysses' journey.
Navigating the lighthouse's disorienting interior will likely necessitate the use of a map. The game includes a built-in doodlepad with color options and a zoom function, encouraging players to experiment with unconventional cartography to chart the lighthouse's disordered spaces. However, players must also be mindful of their steps, as each one contributes to a slow depletion of their life force.
This Is Not For You is slated for release next year. Its conceptual design echoes elements found in other experimental house-themed games, such as the one where the player embodies the house itself. Interactive Dreams' previous works, including 'Your Very Last Words,' 'Swann's Song,' 'A Dream About Parking Lots,' and 'Let Me Play,' are characterized by their thoughtful, concise explorations of historical or literary themes, suggesting a studio with a distinct artistic vision.