Everything we know about SIGNALIS

Let’s admit an uncomfortable truth. The old adage “good things come to those who wait” doesn’t always apply to video games. Sometimes, the wait is lengthy, the anticipation- overwhelming, and the game, when we finally get it- is underwhelming. Of course, this is true for games that are rushed well before they are ready. *cough Cyberpunk 2077 and Fallout 76* But when you’ve waited years for a game, you expect a certain amount of polish.

Now, I don’t know yet where SIGNALIS, the 2D horror game from rose-engine and Humble Games, will fall. The wait has been very long for this game, and if you don’t even remember what game we’re talking about, we got you, boo. Hold onto you space boots as we examine this long-awaited game and everything we know about SIGNALIS.

Remember when?

Once upon a time, in 2014, there was a little studio who wanted to create a love letter to the horror genre. They began building a 2D side-scroller on an older engine. Cursed with low resolution, the game wasn’t near the polished product they wanted. Fast forward several years later, and the evolution of SIGNALIS adapted it into a top down third person shooter with smooth animation set in a creepy atmosphere.

Set to release on October 27, 2022, SIGNALIS is already picking up alcoates and attention from big names like Guillermo del Toro. del Toro presented the game at the 2021 Tribeca Games Spotlight digital showcase, adding to the anticipation.

Buckle up

SIGNALIS’ story might sound familiar to some. In a dystopian future, humanity has messed up…again. Colonizing the solar system and holding it in an iron grip, the Eusan regime rules with fear and violence, using surveillance and propaganda. Humanoid androids called Replikas work among the humans, acting as civil servants and Protektors.  

Main character the Replika Elster awakens in the wreckage of her ship on a remote snowy planet. Her partner is missing and she must transverse the inhospitable planet to find them. Along the way, she discovers the ruins of an underground labor camp, that may or may not be abandoned. Throughout her journey, she begins seeing horrific visions and memories that aren’t hers.

Sounds a bit Dead Space, doesn’t it? As Elster digs deeper into the mysteries of this planet, reality and her dreams blur the lines of what she knows and what is madness. Along the way, she will encounter another Replika like her, with dark intentions. And the creatures inhabiting the planet are nothing to sneeze at. That Dead Space comparison isn’t far off, and just because they are 2D, doesn’t make these things any less terrifying.

Riddle me this

SIGNALIS is, at its core, a survival horror game with puzzle elements. We have seen this branch of the genre explode lately, especially with games like TEN and Remote Life. Like Alice lost in Wonderland, Elster will need her wits about her to figure out the puzzles and codes, which are presented in detailed first person screens. Radio signals will also play a part in solving the mystery of what happened on this planet.

And if Elster wants to survive, the player will need to play smart. Resources are limited, ammunition is scarce. Like The Evil Within, the enemies are not easily defeated, so determining when to fight and when to fly is absolutely necessary.

The melancholy, dense atmosphere will play heavily into the overall creep factor, where light and shadow play tricks on the mind. As shown in the gameplay trailer, there is an overall sense of dread and uneasy permeating the entire game. SIGNALIS promises a “multilayered story weaving together personal conflict and cosmic horror.”

Ready, set, play

SIGNLAIS touches down October 27, 2022. It will be available on PC through Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 4/5 and Nintendo Switch. Japan will get physical releases on PS4 and the Switch. Wishlist it now!

We will continue to update this article as more information comes available. Also, look for our review of the full game upon release and tune in to see us play it on Twitch.

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