Santa Barbara Games, a development studio featuring veterans from studios like Bethesda, Riot, and EA, has revealed its first project: Voidwood. This upcoming title is a 1-4 player cooperative survival horror game that boasts a distinctive art style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli. Players assume the roles of children who find themselves lost within a perilous, cursed forest.
Gameplay in Voidwood involves scavenging for resources and crafting tools during daylight hours to prepare for the night. As darkness falls, an unkillable monstrous entity known as The Beast is unleashed, forcing players to survive its relentless pursuit. Sound plays a critical role in the game, with players utilizing proximity chat for communication. Whispering is encouraged, as loud noises can attract The Beast. The game also presents difficult choices, allowing players to potentially sacrifice one member of the group to ensure the escape of others. Players can find temporary refuge at their camp, where a campfire's light deters lesser monsters, though The Beast is not deterred. Hiding in bushes is another survival tactic, provided players remain quiet.
Each playthrough of Voidwood is designed to be distinct, with individual runs lasting approximately 20 to 30 minutes. The game will feature meta-progression systems, allowing characters to evolve over extended periods of play. Voidwood is currently in development for PC and is slated for release in 2027. It is available to wishlist on Steam.