- An original stealth horror game born at a game jam, 98% positive rating for the free demo
- Unique gameplay style attracting attention: combining other people’s faces to disguise oneself as an acquaintance of the target
Indie developers Adam Pype and Ties Groen have announced the official release of the brutal horror thriller game ‘SKINFACE’, which is currently being co-developed, along with a new trailer.
‘Skinspace’ is a work that features an ingenious and chilling premise in which a faceless killer combines the facial features of others to approach a target while disguised as an acquaintance.
‘Skinface’ initially started as a game jam prototype released on the global indie game platform ‘itch.io’, but development was expanded into an official title thanks to unexpectedly enthusiastic support.
It is currently under development with the goal of launching on PC Steam in the second half of 2026, and you can experience parts of the game in advance through the free demo version currently available.
A stealth drama where faces are combined to disguise oneself as the target’s friend.
In the game, the player takes on the role of a faceless hitman tasked with infiltrating a target’s heavily guarded apartment. The core of the gameplay lies in a unique system where the player steals facial features from passersby, combines them to create a disguise resembling an acquaintance likely to unsuspectingly open the door.
The moment you deceive the target with a perfected face, gain their trust, and enter the apartment, the final stage of the assassination begins. The player must hide from police patrols while scouting the surroundings and create a situation where the target opens the door themselves.
The game is set in a dark and bleak Soviet-era Brutalist apartment complex. Beyond simply eliminating targets, the core fun lies in the process of approaching the apartments by utilizing the surrounding environment and the behavioral patterns of the characters.
In particular, given that the development team behind the acclaimed masterpiece ‘No Players Online’ is at the helm, it is expected to showcase an unpredictable and nightmarish worldview along with high levels of violence as the story progresses.
Combining faces… Bizarre and creepy customization
‘Skinface’ is designed as a short, dense game where the story can be completed in about 2 to 3 hours. However, it appears that more time will be required if you aim to check every element and complete the game 100%.
Players must freely combine facial features to disguise themselves as a trustworthy figure to their targets. The process of combining different facial elements serves as a unique customization element of the game, going beyond a simple stealth method.
Exploring dark locations throughout the game to secure necessary facial parts is also part of the progression. Low-resolution PSX-style low-poly graphics were applied to emphasize the bizarre yet unsettling atmosphere.
A collaboration that started at a game jam, the meeting of two distinctive developers
‘Skinface’ originated as a project that Adam Fife and Thies Groen worked on together at the 2026 Global Game Jam. The two developers worked on the game while traveling between Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp in Belgium, and later, as interest in the prototype grew, they began full-scale development.
Adam Fife is a developer known for games featuring experimental concepts and unique direction, such as ‘No Players Online’ and ‘SPOOKWARE’. He also continues to work consistently with his longtime collaborator, sound designer Viktor Kraus.
Thies Hrun is a developer who has expressed themes such as loss, the fear of the unknown, and self-awareness through a unique visual style, and has showcased works such as ‘Town to City’ and ‘Station to Station’. Both developers have a connection from their work on ‘No Players Online’.
98% Positive Steam Reviews for Demo… Attracting Attention as an Original Horror Game
The expansion demo, released on March 16, currently has a ‘Very Positive’ rating of 98% based on 86 Steam reviews. It continues to receive a consistently positive response, with 12 reviews from the past 30 days also recording a 100% positive rating.
Among itch.io users who previously experienced the Game Jam version, there has been a positive response to the exaggerated and distorted facial expressions and the facial part combination system. It is evaluated as having unique gameplay and a bizarre atmosphere while using brutal subject matter.
Overseas media outlet GamingOnLinux introduced ‘Skinface’ as a brutal stealth game about stealing faces, and horror media outlet Bloody Disgusting also showed interest in the work, highlighting its unique setting and brutal subject matter.
‘Skinface’ is an example of a small-scale prototype that started at a game jam garnering significant attention and evolved into a full-fledged commercial game. It sought to differentiate itself from existing horror games by combining stealth, assassination, and bizarre visuals with a unique premise of combining faces to disguise oneself as another person.
The full version is targeted for release on PC Steam in the second half of 2026 , and you can also experience the demo firsthand at the Gamescom 2026 Indie Arena booth (Hall 10.2).
Information regarding ‘SKINFACE’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Adam Pype, Ties Groen |
| Publisher | Adam Pype, Ties Groen |
| Genre | Stealth, Action, Horror, Thriller |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| personnel | Single player |
| Playtime | Approximately 2–3 hours (based on completion; longer if fully completed) |
| Release date | Scheduled for the second half of 2026 (Free demo currently available) |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Based on the demo, Steam reviews are very positive (98%, 86 reviews), and it has received favorable reviews from international horror media. |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
