“We understand the heightened expectations of what we are being asked to deliver upon here,” said Pannell. “What I personally really love about this is somehow the zombie trope is so powerful that it’s such an all- encompassing thing that we just have to deliver on those expectations to the best of our ability. And that’s really our goal every day, is to try and reach that benchmark to work towards those goals. And yeah, it absolutely is a big responsibility for us to do that. But one of the things that we have as a result of this, is that we have a community with us, and we have a group of people who are on this journey with us. We’re not alone here. It wasn’t just comments from three years ago. And even now, we are doing small scale play tests with members of the community, with the team, to really try and fulfill those expectations and make sure that we deliver on the game that A, they thought it was going to be, and B, that we believe that it can be at the same time.”

“So we’re on a journey together. We may have not been loud to the world, but we’ve been very active with our community, talking to our community, making sure that we get their feedback whenever we can. And like I said, even through actual small scale playtesting already, which we’re doing regularly.”

As for how development has been going in light of the project having gotten wishlisted by more than 1.5 million Steam users, Pannell spoke about how there has also been a fair bit of scepticism surrounding the title, with some calling it “too good to be true”. He acknowledged that “people have been burned by things that have been released.” However, the studio’s ultimate goal is to “prove that we are making a real game, that it is awesome. We’re focusing on the fun, we’re focusing on the things that really matter to making a good quality, fun game that fulfills these expectations.”

Pannell then went on to speak about what sets Blight: Survival apart from other co-op games. While he doesn’t directly bring up “any obvious genres”, he noted that the title thrives on offering players risks and rewards for every combat encounter. This aspect of risk-and-reward, he noted, is a “key element of the overall driving part of many features in the game.” Generally speaking, Blight: Survival takes ideas from a variety of different genres, but action horror is where Pannell believes it lands closest.

“It is a combat driven game with elements of exploration, with extraction light elements that are in there, and other elements also from games of that genre that help us drive the internal tension and the risk the players take whenever they’re in a given space,” he explained.

While Blight: Survival will also feature extraction game elements, Pannell noted that the studio isn’t simply working on a clone of what we’ve seen in ARC Raiders, for example. “We have extraction elements,” he explained, “but it’s not driven exclusively as the extraction genre. And we’re also taking extraction influence from other types of games, like for example, Helldivers or Deep Rock Galactic, that have extraction components as a core part of the phase of the game.”

“Again, not a direct analog, but we have both elements of what we normally consider a round-based game with extraction, plus a pure extraction game too. We have both those elements in our game, and they work in harmony with each other over the course of your playtime.”

“The core game loop is you go in, you try and amass what you can, and you can always push for more, but you could always back out when you feel like you’ve got something that is meaningful.”

Blight: Survival is being developed for PC. However, there is still no release date, at least for now.

State of Decay 3

Undead Labs has been hard at work on the next entry in the State of Decay franchise, and we haven’t seen much of the game except a short cinematic teaser that just gives brief hints about what to expect. It’s obviously going to be a brutal survival game where players will be clearing out waves upon waves of zombies with scant resources, and fans are here for it. It’s being developed using Unreal Engine 5 as well, so fans can be sure that the game will be a looker. It will be released for Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime in the future.

Little Nightmares 3

Little Nightmares 2 is one of the best horror games of recent memory, thanks to its excellent jumpscares and consistently ominous atmosphere. Little Nightmares 3 is looking to knock those strengths up to eleven with an even better atmosphere, gargantuan enemies waiting to maul you at every turn, and a wide variety of cryptic environments housing these threats. It’s set to release sometime this year for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Echoes of the Living

Currently in development at MoonGlint, Echoes of the Living feels like the perfect homage to the classic Resident Evil games complete with an isometric perspective and tank-style controls. It’s a brutal horror game where players will have to go for long stretches with little to no resources, solve brain-tackling puzzles, and engage in boss fights. If Echoes of the Living manages to nail the element of nostalgia while avoiding the inherent frustrations with the previous designs, Echoes of the Living could turn out to be a big hit. It’s set to release sometime in Q1 2024 for PC.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series is making a return with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, an ambitious post-apocalyptic sequel that seems to have a great understanding of what made the originals so great in the first place. Everything from the gameplay to the atmosphere and the graphics are looking really promising, and we can’t wait to dive into the Exclusion Zone once again and scour every inch of this carefully curated map. It’s set to release sometime in Q1 2024 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando is a game that takes inspiration from a bunch of action horror films of the 80s and uses those elements to craft a thrilling co-op experience. Little is known about the game at the moment, but the cinematic trailer has given some hints including but not limited to large groups of enemies and vehicular combat being in the game among others. Toxic Commando doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for this ye

Hideo Kojima OD

A collaboration between Xbox Game Studios and Kojima Productions, OD is being touted as the video game auteur’s most experimental game to date. And that’s saying something since Death Stranding in itself was a game that went against the current gaming trends and open-world conventions. The game’s announcement trailer was about as cryptic as you would expect, with actors muttering out seemingly random words that don’t make any sense. OD will also be utilizing Xbox’s cloud technology to power its mechanics, and we can’t wait to learn more about the game itself. It’s set to release sometime in the near future for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Siltterhead

Slitterhead is the latest game from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, and the game revolves around the player trying to fend off against a host of deadly parasites. The gameplay showcases the protagonist using melee and ranged weapons along with some magical elements, which seems to make for a fresh gameplay experience. Slitterhead will be releasing for Xbox Series X/S and PS5 sometime in the near future.

Blight Survival

Blight Survival thrusts players into a brutal medieval setting and tasks them to slaughter waves upon waves of undead enemy soldiers with nothing but primal weapons like swords and shields. It looks really beautiful with realistic environments and smooth animations accompanying each moment of the gameplay, and the added benefit of experiencing it all with a friend through co-op also makes it an even sweeter deal. Blight Survival will be released for PC at some point in the future.

Still Wakes The Deep

Set against the backdrop of the ever-mysterious sea, Still Wakes The Deep tells the story of a sailor trying to find his crew all while he comes to grips with the many paranormal activities going on around him. It looks like a highly atmospheric game that pays a ton of attention on its visuals and audio design, and the developer The Chinese Room is known for its work on games like Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs – so there’s a good chance that it might just be great.

Paranormal Tales

Digital Cybercherries Paranormal Tales is all about getting through well, paranormal tales experienced by a bunch of survivors in different places. The game is presented in a bodycam perspective with different types of filters like a fish eye lens, a digital camera, or a phone camera which combined with the myriad of different settings should make for a consistently entertaining experience. Paranormal Tales is being built using Unreal Engine 5, and it does not have a release date at the moment.

Tormented Souls 2

Tormented Souls 2 is currently in development at developer Dual Effect, and it looks to be a worthy sequel to the original. The gameplay here revolves around carefully plotting your way through cramped corridors, solving puzzles, and overcoming tough obstacles – which remains fun despite its familiar nature. Between this and tank controls reminiscent of the original Resident Evil games, Tormented Souls 2 should be a rather unique experience that sounds really promising.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Silent Hill 2 is one of the most revered survival horror games of all time, and a lot of that could be attributed to the amazing atmosphere and the constantly twisting story about the town of Silent Hill. Bloober Team is hard at work on a full-fledged remake that not only brings the game’s visuals up to a modern standard but also changes the gameplay in significant ways to better serve a modern audience.

Silent Hill F

Set against the backdrop of an unnamed Japanese town, Silent Hill F is one of the more interesting projects from the array of Silent Hill announcements. The trailer doesn’t show much information about the game, but we have seen some wonderfully ominous atmosphere, a schoolgirl holding a metal pipe, and all kinds of weird imagery that has us excited for what’s in store.

Silent Hill Townfall

Yet another Silent Hill project in the works, Silent Hill Townfall is developer No Code’s take on this legendary horror franchise. The announcement trailer hints at the story revolving around the protagonist being trapped in a hellish nightmare as a punishment for his evil deeds, but it’s too vague and disjointed to make any concrete conclusions from what we know. Hopefully, Konami will shed some light on the game in the coming months. Currently, Silent Hill Townfall doesn’t have confirmed platforms and neither a release date, but hopefully we should know more this year.

Killing Floor 3

Much like prior entries in the franchise, Killing Floor 3 is all about shooting your way through hordes of different zombie types along with a group of friends. Killing Floor 3 thrusts players into a futuristic setting with high-tech weaponry and bioengineered monsters, so returning fans can expect plenty of new features and mechanics jumping into this game. The game will be released for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S sometime in the near future.

The Casting of Frank Stone

Supermassive Games is known for its signature brand of narrative-based horror, and the developer is currently hard at work on its next project The Casting of Frank Stone. The game is set in the Dead By Daylight universe, and the story follows a group of young friends facing the horrifying mystery of Frank Stone and his deadly legacy. It’s obviously a story where you make critical decisions at every turn which dictates the ultimate outcome, so it’s not uncharted territory for the developer – but it’s definitely worth a look.

ILL

Currently in development at Clout Games, ILL is an ambitious survival horror game that’s being built using Unreal Engine 5. Featuring stunning visuals and superb-looking gameplay, ILL seems to be punching well above its weight class and might just put up some fierce competition against its AAA competitors if it manages to stand true to its promises. It will be released for PC sometime in the near future.

Death Stranding 2

Death Stranding wasn’t a pure horror game by any means, but there were plenty of horror sequences that would snugly fit in the box of such games. Death Stranding 2 is set to build upon these foundations with a story that features both new and returning faces, new mechanics, and a convoluted story. Its release date isn’t set in stone, but it will be releasing for PS5 in the future.

So it’s no surprise that the AA and indie game scene has exploded in popularity in recent times, and we love to give a spotlight on such games. We have previously covered games including but not limited to Project: The Perceiver, Faith of Danschant: Hereafter, Black Myth: Wukong among others. And today, we have yet another promising game that looks absolutely amazing, so let’s dig deep into Blight: Survival and discuss many of its gameplay aspects and why it could be one of the biggest surprises of the near future.

Blight: Survival is currently in development at Haenir Studio, and this is the studio’s debut title. Blight: Survival is set against the backdrop of medieval history, a time where wars and conflicts raged in full force all while art and literature took huge strides in shaping civilization as we know it today. The game takes place in an alternate history 14th century where a mysterious blight is turning dead soldiers into monsters, and because a never-ending war of factions is going on in full force – the Blight is producing an army of undead.

The unique setting gives way to this interesting premise, which looks like a neat spin on the tried-and-tested zombie narrative that we have come to know and love. Sure, it might be treading familiar ground in many ways – but it could certainly branch off and develop a narrative that doesn’t hinge too closely on stereotypical zombie tropes.

While the setting itself looks novel and well-realized for the most part, there’s perhaps no argument that most players would be jumping in for the gameplay – and suffice to say, it has us salivating for the final release. Blight: Survival is a co-op game with procedurally generated levels, so players will be jumping into this world with up to 3 other friends as they try to survive the undead onslaught and get to the bottom of it all. The trailer opens up with a brutal finisher by our player character, and that sets the perfect tone for what’s to come. Haenir Studio seems to have paid a lot of attention to the feel of the combat, and it really shows in the final product.

The combat in Blight: Survival is absolutely brutal, and every swing of your weapon has a certain weight to it, and character movements are hefty enough to feel realistic but not too heavy that they end up feeling slow and unresponsive. It’s a very careful balance that even some AAA developers fail to nail down, so it’s rather surprising that Haenir has managed to get it right the first time around.

And when it comes to the act of going through combat encounters, Blight: Survival offers plenty of choices to the player. You could try to master the careful dance of swerves and strikes and take on enemies one by one, or you could try to get creative with your strategy for an easier way through levels. You see, this game also features stealth elements – so you could take cover against tall grass and stab your enemies at the back with your trusty knife, which also looks slick thanks to superb takedown animations. Or you could snipe them from afar by using your handy bow. To be honest, this mix of action and stealth elements reminds us of Asobo’s A Plague Tale: Requiem, and that comparison is by no means a criticism of what Haenir Studio is trying to do.

Player progression will also play a huge part in the gameplay proceedings of Blight: Survival as well. Once you defeat enemies, you can loot their corpses for resources and currency that you can use to upgrade your character. Resources will also have a rarity level associated with them, so it might be best to be on the lookout for supplies during your time on the battlefield to make the most of your visit to the blacksmith for armor and weapon upgrades.

And that brings us neatly over to the weapons, and Blight: Survival will feature different kinds of weapons ranging from straight swords to daggers and bows, just to name a few. Each weapon will have different attachments such as sword hilts and bow material which will contribute to the power level of the weapon, and this is strong evidence for the fact that player stats will play as much of a role in Blight: Survival as your mastery with the mechanics itself – so be sure to put your best foot forward.

Sure, some may feel that the reliance on number-crunching combat isn’t the best, but when implemented with careful attention to detail – it can create an engaging gameplay loop of looting and fighting which can be pretty enjoyable in its own right. And Haenir studio has stated that it will also allow for build options in combat, so there’s that to consider as well.

Of course, this feature would be incomplete if we didn’t mention the visuals, which obviously look absolutely gorgeous. There’s great attention to detail everywhere ranging from the conscious decision to use a gloomy color palette to period accurate engravings on the player armor to even the cloth materials that sway with your movements and the wind. And on top of that, a technically competent visual make-up consisting of high-quality assets, alpha particles, and dense foliage also breathe so much life into this world, which isn’t too surprising considering that the game is being made using the Unreal Engine 5.

Finally, we have the topic of release date and platforms. Unsurprisingly, Haenir Studio hasn’t mentioned anything on that matter as of yet, but we do know that it will be releasing for PC only as of now. A release date in the ballpark of 2024 seems like a fair guess at this point, though it’s important to keep expectations in check since delays can be frequent when a smaller studio attempts to create such an ambitious project.

Those wanting to experience the game on current-gen consoles might get the chance if Blight: Survival ends up being a smash hit upon its debut, but as it stands now – it’s going to be a long wait at the very least. There’s plenty of potential in Blight: Survival, thanks to its ambitious production values and brutal combat – and we really hope that Haenir Studio does it justice and succeeds in its design goals with this game.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

It’s pre-alpha and doesn’t necessarily reflect the final game’s quality. The zombies are fueled by a blight strain which spreads through blood. As a soldier, you must seemingly destroy the blight with up to three friends capable of joining you. Other humans, potentially from the opposing side, are also present in the area, but can be mostly avoided with stealth.

Along with various secrets, the no man’s land is teeming with loot and coin. Exploration yields new weapons and armor that can provide an edge. The rogue-lite nature means you can lose everything upon dying, but the discoveries made could carry over between attempts. We’ll have to wait and see.

Blight: Survival is coming to PC with no release window announced. Stay tuned for more information in the meantime.