Developer Sonka has just dropped a brand-new trailer for their psychological survival horror game Holstin, along with an extended two-hour demo that offers players the full opening experience. Revealed during the Future Games Show, this demo shifts gears from earlier teasers that focused on isolated mechanics-this time, you dive straight into the eerie core of the story.
Holstin stands out not only with its unsettling atmosphere and retro inspiration but with its use of 2XD rendering technology, which allows for real-time perspective switching in fully lit, pixelated 3D environments.
Think classic survival horror, but with a uniquely dynamic presentation that puts you deeper into the dread.
Set in a haunting, decaying version of 1990s Poland, the game takes place in the lakeside town of Jeziorne-Kolonia, where you play as Tomasz, one of the last townsfolk yet to succumb to a bizarre infection that transforms people into oozing monstrosities. It’s a gripping blend of psychological tension, body horror, and nostalgic survival mechanics that harken back to Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
What sets Holstin apart is how it balances its retro aesthetics with modern gameplay polish. The visuals may evoke early 2000s pixel horror, but everything from its lighting to audio design feels precision-crafted. It’s aiming to be more than just a nostalgia trip-it’s a full-fledged modern horror experience wrapped in lo-fi skin.
Scheduled for release on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (and likely Switch 2), and PC, Holstin is also planning a Kickstarter campaign in 2025 to help carry the project through to completion. If successful, it could join the ranks of recent indie horror hits like Signalis, Crow Country, and Mouthwashing.
Judging by the early reactions, Holstin may just be the next big pixel horror gem-if it manages to keep its scares as tight and haunting as its demo promises.