Retro-futuristic horror game 'Deepest Fear' shares gameplay footage

Summary

Variable State revealed the first bit of uninterrupted gameplay from its upcoming retro-futuristic horror game Deepest Fear.
The video features a mix of exploration, puzzle solving, inventory management, combat and a lot of running.
Deepest Fear promises to combine elements of survival horror, metroidvanias and immersive sims.

British developer Variable State shared some new gameplay footage from The deepest fearits upcoming sci-fi horror game that promises to deliver a mix of different genre mechanics. This sneak peek The deepest fears gameplay comes just a week after the PC game's original announcement.

Founded in 2014, Variable State currently has two games to its name: first-person thriller Virginia and third-person adventure Last stopreleased in 2016 and 2021 respectively. After making these two narrative adventures, the company tackled a sci-fi co-op shooter called Polariswhich still lacks a release date. Meanwhile, Variable State has recently announced its fourth project in the form of the retro-futuristic horror game The deepest fearrevealed during the 2024 edition of the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted.

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How Deepest Fear's Metroidvania approach amplifies horror

Game Rant chats with Deepest Fear game director Lyndon Holland about the survival horror game's Metroidvania style.

A week after the game's announcement on December 5, Variable State shared the first glimpse of raw, uninterrupted gameplay from The deepest fear. The seven-minute video shows some exploration, some examples of inventory management, some puzzle solving, and a lot of running. The running part starts when The deepest fears water monsters appear in droves, forcing the protagonist – Dr. Danni Carrol – to navigate the claustrophobic corridors of the underwater research facility she's trapped in with increased urgency while selectively engaging in combat. The campaign ends with brief sneak peeks at several cutscenes, which offer tantalizing hints about the game's story.

Deepest Fear draws inspiration from retro-futuristic film cult classics

The retro-futuristic setting of The deepest fear was widely inspired by the works of John Carpenter, Paul Verhoven, David Cronenberg and James Cameron. Variable State specifically cites Cronenberg's The flyCameron's The abyssCarpenter The Thingand Verhoeven's Total recall as some of the direct influences on the upcoming game. The studio also revealed that The deepest fear also draws from other works by these acclaimed directors.

As Polaris, The deepest fear is another upcoming Variable State title still awaiting a concrete release date. The game has only been confirmed for PC so far, but that's not to say it won't eventually make its way to more platforms. Variable State's first two games launched on both PlayStation and Xbox consoles as well as PC, with Last stop even landing on the Nintendo Switch.

Total, The deepest fear looks like it has the potential to deliver a memorable sci-fi experience with retro-futuristic themes. Between that and its mix of immersive sim, metroidvania, and survival horror elements, the game could potentially appeal to fans of everything from System shock and BioShock to Change and SLEEP.