- Meta-Horror Concept: Set within “WHISMIE LIVE,” a social rehabilitation program that broadcasts human trauma to millions of viewers.
- Living Time Loop: Features a world that evolves independently of the player, where time moves on its own, and every cycle brings new trials.
- Emotional Depth: Inspired by indie icons like Undertale, House, and Fran Bow, focusing on psychological tension and narrative over traditional jumpscares.
Solo developer Yaroslav has officially opened the Steam page for WHISMIE, a psychological horror-puzzle adventure that is already drawing significant attention for its meta-narrative and unique “broadcast” setting. Blending the chilling atmosphere of surreal horror with a live-streamed social experiment, the game challenges players to find the line between healing and exploitation.
The Spectacle of ‘WHISMIE LIVE’
The world of WHISMIE is built around a disturbing social premise: an innovative rehabilitation program that transforms human suffering into a spectacle for a global audience.
Participants are connected to a neural device that immerses them in a virtual world generated by an AI—a reflection of their deepest fears, suppressed memories, and crushing guilt. You play as Emily, a new participant whose virtual reality takes the shape of her childhood home. What begins as a peaceful trip down memory lane quickly distorts into a nightmare where love and horror coexist, all while millions of viewers watch your every move.
Gameplay: Roguelike Evolution in a Time Loop
WHISMIE distinguishes itself through a “Living Time Loop” mechanism. Unlike traditional adventure games, time in this world does not wait for the player.
- Independent World: The house continues to live and change even if the player stands still.
- Unpredictable Cycles: Each cycle includes a timer and a randomized set of events. Thanks to its roguelike structure, every playthrough offers different phone calls, dialogues, and secrets that slowly piece together Emily’s past.
- Dynamic Puzzles: There is rarely one “correct” way to solve a puzzle. The game encourages experimentation, using both mouse-driven point-and-click interactions and keyboard-based movement to navigate the shifting environment.
A Living, Breathing Environment
The longer Emily remains inside the program, the more the world around her fractures.
The level of interaction is exceptionally high; players can move furniture, open curtains, and collect items that might serve as tools for survival—or triggers for new horrors. As the AI world becomes more distorted, everything from the background audio to the behavior of the house’s inhabitants shifts to reflect Emily’s deteriorating emotional state.
Game Profile: WHISMIE
| Category | Details |
| Developer | Yaroslav (Solo Developer) |
| Genre | Psychological Horror / Puzzle / Adventure |
| Key Inspirations | Undertale, House, Fran Bow |
| Platform | PC (Steam) |
| Language Support | 29 Languages (including English, Korean, Japanese) |
| Release Date | Coming Soon |
With its focus on atmospheric dread and the feeling of being watched by a massive, unseen audience, WHISMIE is shaping up to be a standout title for fans of narrative-heavy indie horror. The official Steam page is now live, and a playable demo is expected to be released in the near future.
The development team is currently working on a playable demo version, which will be released soon. The official release date is listed as “Coming Soon” and will be announced at a later date.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3401710/WHISMIE/
