- Developed by Belgian indie studio Eye Blink Twice, scheduled for official release in Fall 2026
- An original psychological thriller where the space and music change with every blink of an eye
- 100% Positive Reviews on Steam… Final Demo Unveiled at Next Fest
The moment you close and open your eyes, the world changes. ‘Time To Wake Up,’ a surreal first-person psychological thriller about tracking lost memories while trapped in a dream, has arrived for gamers through Steam Next Fest.
‘Time To Wake Up’, currently under development by Belgian indie studio Eye Blink Twice, will participate in Steam Next Fest, which runs from June 15.
The latest demo, unveiled ahead of the official release in the fall of 2026, is the final updated version that incorporates various improvements based on the positive reception of the first demo, which received a 100% positive rating on Steam.
In particular, this update links the game’s core system, ‘Blink,’ with music production. Whenever the player blinks, not only the surrounding environment but also the background music changes, providing an even more intense sense of immersion.
Close your eyes and the world turns upside down… A surreal world created by blinking
The setting of the game is a surreal space composed of the dream memories of the protagonist, Alan Malone.
Strange places that blur the boundaries between reality and dreams await the player, including corridors with endless rows of dozens of bedrooms, classrooms filled with quotes, mazes made of lockers, and massive halls battered by fierce winds. Familiar school spaces like the library, restrooms, and playgrounds also appear in distorted forms, creating a constant sense of unease.
The sound also supports this atmosphere. The music transition system added in this demo is designed so that the background music changes the moment the space changes. Thanks to this, players experience a unique phenomenon where their visual and auditory senses are swapped simultaneously with every brief moment they blink.
‘Blinking’ is the survival strategy… The key system for navigating the maze of memory
The essence of ‘Time To Wake Up’ is, just as the title suggests, ‘blinking’.
The game goes beyond simply switching screens; the act of blinking itself is utilized as a key means of manipulating space. When you blink, certain structures move or reset, and the environment itself changes, such as a room filling with water or transforming into a completely different space.
A mysterious voice accompanies you on your dream journey, helping you recover memories of the past. While it sometimes opens the way and provides hints, suspicious classmates roaming the hallways constantly stare at the player, heightening the tension. To evade them, you must make proper use of your blinking ability.
100% Positive Review on Steam… Enthusiastic Reaction from Community and Media
‘Time To Wake Up’ garnered the attention of indie game fans by recording a 100% positive rating on Steam after the release of its first demo.
Reactions in the community continued, such as, “It is impressive how the simple idea of blinking was expressed in such a creative and terrifying way,” and “This is the first time a familiar space like school has felt so unfamiliar and unsettling.”
Developer Eye Blink Twice unveiled a final demo update incorporating user feedback in time for Next Fest, stating that this version is the last demo to be showcased before the official release.
The first work of a new indie studio from Belgium
Eye Blink Twice is a Belgian indie developer founded in 2023. With “eye-catching gameplay,” “relatable stories,” and “atmosphere-filled worlds” as its core values, the company is challenging itself with various genre experiments.
‘Time To Wake Up’ is the studio’s first work, aiming to present a new experience to the psychological thriller genre by showcasing original ideas and an intense atmosphere.
The blink of an eye, something everyone repeats unconsciously. However, in ‘Time To Wake Up,’ that fleeting moment creates a path, restores memories, and sometimes evokes fear. The answer to what truth the player will face in a world where the boundary between reality and dreams is blurred is set to be revealed in the fall of 2026.
Information regarding ‘Time To Wake Up’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Eye Blink Twice |
| Genre | First-person psychological thriller / Puzzle adventure |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) |
| Scheduled for official release | Autumn 2026 |
| Core mechanics | Switching and manipulating spaces with blinking |
| background | Surreal school (classrooms, library, restrooms, playground, etc.) |
| Demo evaluation | 100% positive rating on Steam |
| Next Fest | June 15, 2026 onwards participation |
| Main Keywords | Psychological thriller, dreams, memories, blinking, surreal, school, horror, puzzle |
| Official Channel | Steam Community Hub |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
