Blue Ridge Hunting is an upcoming Steam game that combines the gameplay premise of Phasmophobia with the setting of the Appalachians. So instead of Phasmophobias many ghosts, players are tasked with hunting down a variety of cryptids.
Blue Ridge Hunting started as a solo venture by developer Jade Meadows in January 2023. Meadows found the concept of a horror-hunting multiplayer horror game promising enough to found an indie studio – Jade & Company – dedicated to making it a reality.
Blue Ridge Hunting Launches Kickstarter Campaign
The developer is now one step closer to that goal after the launch of Blue Ridge Hunting Kickstarter campaign. The crowdfunding effort aims to raise $15,000 by November 30. Although the campaign is structured as an all-or-nothing objective, Phasmophobia-inspired game seems likely to be released regardless of its crowdfunding success, as the project has already secured a publisher: Six One Publishing, described as a boutique brand focused on indie game developers.
Blue Ridge Hunting free demo now available on Steam
Together with the crowdfunding campaign, Blue Ridge Hunting received a playable demo that is now available on Steam, where the game itself can also be wishlisted. Jade & Company plans to continue updating the demo with additional content and other improvements in the coming months. Although designed as a cooperative experience for two or three players, Blue Ridge Hunting will also be playable solo. It will feature an open Freeplay mode, plus a story campaign starring a group of friends who want to kill the most elusive of Appalachian cryptids – the Mothman.
When it comes to art direction, Blue Ridge Hunting draws inspiration from the PlayStation 1 era of early 3D survival horror, with a gritty retro style with visuals reminiscent of found footage analog. Proximity chat will be included, but players must use it with caution: while communication can help capture a cryptid, Appalachian monsters are always listening. Overall fans of Phasmophobia and Fallout 76s cryptids can find a lot to appreciate in this upcoming title.
Blue Ridge Hunting launches in 2026 at an affordable price
Blue Ridge Hunting is currently aiming for a 2026 Early Access launch, with the first version of the game expected to have about a third of all planned content. Since the developer has yet to narrow down the release window for 2026 and considering that 2025 is almost over, a release in the second half of next year seems more likely than the first. Blue Ridge Hunting will retail for $9.99, with that price promised to remain the same even after early access. The game has so far only been confirmed for PC, where it will launch exclusively through Steam. Blue Ridge Hunting is slated to be a Steam Deck Verified game and be in early access for “about a year,” Jade & Company said.
