- A new title in the Maze Chronicles universe from Redlock Studio, developers of ‘Shardred’ and ‘Blackshard’
- First-person exploration inside a massive megastructure and a branching narrative… A dreamy soundtrack by French composer ALT236
- Starts with 100% positive reviews on Steam, GameDaily calls it “one of the most unique concepts of 2026”
A faceless boy who repeatedly appears in dreams. In the massive megastructure ‘Nameless City’ that he entered chasing after, beings with their own purposes live, and the laws of the universe no longer apply.
Hypnos, a Lovecraftian exploration adventure developed by Redlock Studio, an indie studio based in Grenoble and Lyon, France, was released on Steam Early Access on May 6. The price is $19.90/€16.90, with a 15% launch discount currently applied.
Immediately after launch, 100% of the 34 user reviews were positive, and the development team plans to finish Early Access within this year and officially release it along with the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions.
The Journey of Wanderer Coron… A Branching Narrative Where Choices Change Destiny
The protagonist of Hypnos is Choron, a wanderer burdened by the weight of the past. Entering a nameless city in search of a faceless boy who repeatedly appears in his dreams, he confronts a reality where the rules of the universe are crumbling and is drawn into the center of a massive conspiracy in which gods, lords, and forgotten beings intervene in the fate of the world.
The game’s progression is structured around exploration and choices. Players can freely roam the semi-open world of ‘Far Reaches,’ encountering various inhabitants, and the fate of each character changes depending on their dialogue choices and actions.
Environmental interaction elements have also been provided to transform matter or lift the ‘veil’ covering the world. Through this, players can access the world’s hidden structure and truth. The full version is planned to offer a total of four endings, while the current Early Access version allows players to experience one main ending and most of the world regions.
The boundary between dreams and reality, the aesthetics of overwhelming megastructures
The launch trailer powerfully reveals the game’s distinctive and overwhelming atmosphere. The narrow and twisted spatial structure, the unsettling lighting, and the world design hinting at something hidden beneath the surface leave a unique impression distinct from typical Lovecraftian horror.
In particular, HYPNOS is characterized by the fact that it built its world around living megastructures with their own logic and faction structure, instead of familiar visual clichés such as ruined port towns or tentacle monsters.
The game’s setting, the ‘Nameless City,’ is a surreal structure built upon the ruins of a previous civilization. Geometrically impossible spaces extending endlessly beneath the shadow of the Holy Mountain, a structure where dreams and reality overlap, and the hidden side of the world revealed as the ‘veil’ concealing the truth is lifted serve as the core mystery throughout the work.
The soundtrack, created by French multimedia artist and composer ALT236, is a key pillar that completes the game’s dreamlike atmosphere. Blending ambient, retro, and dreamlike electronic music, the music conveys both the tranquility of exploration and an inexplicable sense of unease, completing the dreamlike mood.
” One of the most original concepts of the year “… Favorable reviews from the media and community
Initial reactions from overseas media and communities have been positive. GameDaily, a specialized gaming media outlet, described it as “one of the most unique concepts among recently released works in the genre,” stating, “While most Lovecraftian games merely borrow the visual elements of the genre, Hypnos has succeeded in differentiating itself through a structural approach of living megastructures.”
Another media outlet, ingamenews, analyzed, “By introducing a first-person perspective into the existing world of ‘The Maze Chronicles,’ it draws the player even deeper into the center of myths, symbols, and existential anxiety.”
Even in the Steam community, “ Along with reactions stating that “the beauty of Hypnos cannot be overemphasized,” opinions are continuing to mention the trust in the developer built through the previous work, BlackShards.
A world built over 15 years… Inspired by Lovecraft and Frank Herbert
Redlock Studio is a studio based in Grenoble and Lyon, France, that has been continuing a project to bring the fictional world of ‘The Maze Chronicles’ series to life as a game.
This worldview was constructed in the minds of the creators over 15 years and is the result of concentrated research on mythology, religion, literature, pop culture (particularly influenced by HP Lovecraft, China Miéville, and Frank Herbert), science, and role-playing campaigns.
Previous work The studio, known for ‘Shardred: Tale of a Forgotten King’ and ‘Black Shard’, is embarking on a new endeavor through Hypnos that combines a first-person perspective with a branching narrative.
The development team plans to complete the final content by conducting early access for approximately 4 to 5 months and incorporating community feedback. The console version will also be released simultaneously with the official launch.
Information regarding ‘HYPNOS’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / Publisher | Redlock Studio (Grenoble, Lyon, France) |
| Genre | First-person exploration adventure / Lovecraft / Narrative |
| Release platform | PC (Steam Early Access) → PS5 · Xbox Series X|S (Upon official release) |
| Release date | May 6, 2026 (Early Access) |
| price | $19.90 / €16.90 (15% launch discount applied) |
| Steam Review | 100% Positive (34 items) |
| Early Access Period | 4~5 months expected |
| Number of endings | 1 Early Access → 4 at Full Release |
| Soundtrack | ALT236 (Ambient, Retro, Dreamlike Electronic Music) |
| worldview | Maze Chronicles universe |
| influence | HP Lovecraft, China Miéville, Frank Herbert |
| Main Keywords | Lovecraft, dreams, exploration, branching narrative, megastructures, surreal, ambient |
| Official Channel | Discord · Steam News |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
