Dark Mass Developers Reveal the Creepy Inspirations Behind Their Sinister Sea Odyssey

From the independent Spanish studio Path Games, Dark Mass is a forthcoming horror game featuring a distinctive concept located wholly beneath the waves. Players will experience firsthand visuals and lifelike imagery generated with Unreal Engine 5. This title stands out from others as it sets itself apart with its aquatic setting. Horror Themes Set in Ocean Waters , Dark Mass targets an extended expedition lasting between four to six hours, encompassing exploration, problem-solving, and a detailed narrative wherein player choices play a crucial role.

Dark Mass places players in the role of Alice, a deep-sea diver who, alongside her brother Reed, uncovers an ancient submerged manor. Upon exploring it, Alice realizes she is not alone, for a sinister force haunts the accursed mansion. Dark Mass has been likened to several other underwater horror titles like Subnautica and Iron Lung Since its unveiling, however, that was not what inspired the developers. Actually, they took their inspiration from the world of Dark Mass is inspired by both cinematic styles and actual historical events. Recently, Game Rant had a conversation with Virginia Calvo and Gonzalo G. Luna, who are the co-founders and lead designers at Path Games. Dark Mass , regarding the primary influences behind the game.

How Dark Mass Honors Classic Horror Movies

As Calvo and Luna mentioned, the development team at Path Games chose to express their passion for horror movies in Dark Mass and pay homage to classic horror productions like Rosemary’s Baby , Twin Peaks , and Jaws "Cinema serves as our primary source of inspiration," they remarked. The idea of a first-person perspective set underwater was their initial concept. Dark Mass had already crossed the developers' thoughts while the studio was working on Insomnis , their initial foray into horror games occurred in early 2022. However, the 2021 film remained notable. The Deep House That provided the team with "the final impetus" to begin working on it. Dark Mass .

The Deep House is a horror film set in France, where a young couple finds themselves trapped in a house submerged at the bottom of a lake with a sinister presence. Similarly, Dark Mass witnesses the protagonist Alice come across a manor deep beneath the sea. A malevolent force is imprisoned within the manor due to an enchantment, and Alice needs to unravel its sorrowful history and find a way out before it becomes impossible to do so. Dark Mass a game that falls under the survival horror genre but is also packed with puzzling challenges. As an illustration, Alice must tackle riddles derived from actual torture techniques used during the Spanish Inquisition period.

Apart from its storyline, Calvo and Luna mentioned that one of the aspects Dark Mass ’ soundscapes drew from horror film scores like Sinister .

The True Stories That Inspired Dark Mass

When developing Dark Mass , Calvo and Luna’s group understood that horror tales resonate more powerfully when they feel realistic. This led them to incorporate elements from their own experiences. Given that Path Games operates out of Spain, the team saw this as an ideal chance to leverage Dark Mass ’ background:

As we crafted the game's storyline and villain, we realized the importance of establishing a strong background firmly grounded in real life. Given our Spanish heritage, it's straightforward for us to explore historical locations that retain traces of their history, and we aimed to incorporate this rich atmosphere into the game.

The developers also mention that, although the historical aspects in Dark Mass Rooted in actual historical documents, the team also exercised some artistic freedom to maintain the game’s sense of mystery. Additionally, it should be noted that the game will include both English and Spanish voice acting.

Insomnia Also Shared Some Tips With the Developers

Dark Mass Is Path Games' second horror title following their first release? Insomnis Currently, it has "Very Positive" reviews on Steam; however, Calvo and Luna acknowledge that certain insights were gained from Insomnis played a part during creation Dark Mass by laying the groundwork for its universe creation. With Dark Mass , players will enjoy a more engaging experience that encourages exploration. The game aims to provide players with a deep horror storyline involving meaningful decision-making As Calvo and Luna point out,

We aim to avoid relying on 200 inexpensive jump scares; instead, we want players to leave with an incredible narrative that they can succinctly describe in just two sentences, feeling our love for filmmaking throughout their experience.

Dark Mass It doesn't have a release date set just yet, but Path Games is targeting a fall 2026 launch period. Both Calvo and Luna confirmed that the upcoming trailer will provide further information, though they cautioned enthusiasts that they'll need to wait "a little longer" for it.

Share this post