Solo developer Steelkrill Studio is crafting a survival horror experience titled Where Dolls Hang, which draws significant inspiration from Mexico's Isla de las Muñecas, or the Island of the Dolls. The game aims to bridge the gap between fictional horror and real-world creepiness by incorporating actual photographs of unsettling dolls into its design.
According to developer Steelkrill, some of the doll models featured in Where Dolls Hang were created using real photographs. These source images will also be present within the game itself, establishing a unique connection between the game's narrative and reality. The studio explained that this approach "creates an unusual connection between the game's horrors and reality: something disturbing hanging in a room or sitting in the darkness may not have been designed entirely from imagination." A gameplay clip demonstrated this by showing a player encountering a doll head identical to a photograph they had just dropped.
The Isla de las Muñecas itself is steeped in folklore. Legends surrounding the island, located in Mexico City's canals, suggest that the numerous dolls affixed to trees carry the spirit of a young girl who drowned nearby. The island's caretaker, Don Julian Santana, spent decades collecting discarded dolls and toys from the water to appease her spirit, a practice that has continued for over 80 years.
Where Dolls Hang was recently featured in the Horror Game Awards' summer showcase. The game is slated for a 2026 release and is currently available to wishlist on Steam. The development's direct use of real-world unsettling imagery positions it as a rare example of a game based on true, albeit macabre, stories.