- A hardcore stealth action RPG where light and shadow determine survival
- Combining light source and line-of-sight-based stealth with a ‘corruption’ system… 30-minute to 2-hour demo
Chaolys, a two-person development team based in Quebec City, Canada, has released a free demo of the stealth action RPG ‘Nemorsys’ on Steam in partnership with publisher indie.io.
Set in a dark fantasy world where light and shadow determine survival, the game features a combination of extreme stealth-centric gameplay and a ‘Corruption’ system. Players take on the role of a protagonist who has made a pact with a shadow spirit and must embark on a journey of revenge through tense stealth based on lighting and field of view, as well as environmental utilization strategies.
The Return of the Executed Woman… A Dangerous Contract with Darkness
Nemorsys centers on a revenge story against the dictator King Murab. Players take on the role of the protagonist Kaelara, who makes a dark pact with the ancient shadow spirit ‘Nemorsys’ to hunt down the corrupt king. However, great power comes at a price. There is a risk of losing one’s humanity as one defeats enemies.
Players advance through regions requiring different strategies, ranging from the breathtaking Eye-Gouger Tunnels to the Darkened Light Temple and the massive shadow cast by the King’s Castle. The path to revenge demands unique structures and strategies, while exploration elements combining puzzles and traps add tension throughout the gameplay.
A world of chilling tension created by light and darkness
The game restricts visibility through a ‘Dynamic Fog of War’ system and changes the surroundings in real time. An environment where even enemies right in front of you may not be visible maintains tension throughout the gameplay.
The game’s visuals feature a 2D top-down perspective and tense direction where a single ray of light casts through the darkness. As Kalara moves in the darkness, the shadows change, naturally creating dramatic scenes where a single enemy torch can determine life or death.
It is also possible to manipulate light sources to open up movement paths and weaponize the environment. You can resolve situations without combat by luring enemies with ancient traps or manipulating structures to crush those blocking your path.
Field of view and light source-based stealth and ‘corruption’ system
Nemosis’ stealth rejects the simple dichotomy of ‘detected/undetected.’ Line-of-sight, distance, and ambient light levels are all factors determining survival. Enemies abandon predictable patrol patterns to communicate with each other, react to noise, and track the player, so being detected even once puts you in a fatal situation.
Another key element is the Corruption system. As the character uses Shadow abilities, they are increasingly consumed by darkness; exceeding a certain level leads to the loss of humanity and the inability to use Light abilities. Conversely, utilizing Light spells allows the character to purify themselves and increase their chances of survival.
The protagonist, Carla, purifies enemies and protects herself from darkness through five unique light spells. The balance between shadow abilities and light spells forms the core axis of strategy in all battles and explorations.
Demo version to experience a level 3 unlocked character
The demo released this time features a character equipped with abilities unlocked at level 3, rather than the game’s introduction. It is characterized by the ability to directly utilize some of the total 20 skills, allowing players to quickly experience the game’s core systems.
Enemies exhibit various behavioral patterns, such as tracking, encircling, and utilizing light sources, and players must choose from various strategies—including stealth, evasion, and environment utilization—depending on the situation. Additionally, through a newly improved progression system and death mechanism, failure also serves as part of the game experience.
The playtime ranges from about 30 minutes to a maximum of 2 hours and is designed to allow you to experiment with various approaches.
A two-person team consisting of a physics major programmer and a fantasy novelist + nurse
Chaolys, the developer of the game, is a small studio composed of two indie developers. One is Hugo Marcoux, a programmer with a background in engineering physics, and the other is Sébastien, a game designer, fantasy novelist, and part-time nurse who is responsible for narrative, worldbuilding, and level design. The collaboration between these two individuals, combining completely different fields of technology and creation, forms the basis of Nemosis’s systems-centric design and rich worldbuilding.
The two previously worked together on the development of their previous title, Castle War (PC, Steam). Nemosis is broadly targeting the global market by supporting 30 languages, including Korean. The developer stated that while they partially utilized AI tools for voice acting, some cutscenes, and in-game portraits, they created all of the game’s core content in-house, including characters, world design, and animations.
While the tension and strategic depth stand out, the high difficulty is a variable for success.
Since the release of the demo, there has been a generally positive response from both the community and critics regarding the fresh approach. In particular, the combination of a vision-based stealth design utilizing light and shadow with a ‘decay’ system is regarded as a differentiating factor from existing genres. Many players comment that the gameplay, which requires strategically utilizing light sources and the environment beyond simple stealth, provides a high level of immersion and tension.
On the other hand, it has been pointed out that the game’s structure, where being detected leads to immediate failure, and limited combat options could act as a significant barrier to entry. Nevertheless, the game is being evaluated as garnering anticipation from fans of the stealth action genre thanks to its unique systems and strong concept.
Information regarding ‘Nemorsys’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Chaolys (Quebec City, Canada, 2-person team) |
| Publisher | indie.io |
| Genre | Stealth Action RPG / Dark Fantasy |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | Undecided (Coming soon) |
| demo | Free Steam demo currently available (30 minutes to 2 hours) |
| Key Features | Field of View & Light Source-Based Stealth / Corruption System / 20 Shadow Abilities / Multiple Endings |
| Language support | 30 languages including Korean |
| Official Channel | Discord · YouTube · Facebook |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
