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Holstin is a new indie psychological horror from Sonka, published by Team17. This isolated 90s Polish town is consumed by a mysterious presence, with a focus on eerie atmosphere, psychological tension, and what I would describe as general creepiness.
Thanks to its new partnership with Team17, the game is set to expand with improvements supported by better funding, which should lead to a much more well-rounded package and more refined mechanics.
An exciting new indie horror
If you’re like me and a fan of Resident Evil in any way, then Holstin could be right up your alley. It looks genuinely impressive, and I’m a huge fan of the art style and the blend of isometric and over-the-shoulder gameplay. It's also looking to offer a unique gameplay loop based on what we have seen so far.
Players will explore the town of Jeziorne-Kolonia, a deteriorating 90s Polish settlement that has been overrun by an infection consuming buildings, wildlife, and the townsfolk.
Gameplay focuses on exploration, survival, and careful resource management, and supplies are limited enough to keep the tension high.
Combat stands out, with the game shifting from its isometric perspective to a third-person view when fighting enemies, and even a first-person view when driving.
Sonka’s art style gives Holstin a distinct look by merging hand-drawn work with detailed pixel art.
Holstin will also feature full voice acting in both Polish and English, which should add a lot of authenticity to the world and really help sell the atmosphere. I do plan to pick this game up when it releases (more on this next), and I think I’ll go with Polish voice acting for that authentic feeling.
As for a release date, there’s still nothing confirmed, and it remains to be seen when Holstin will launch. With the new partnership in place and what looks like an expanded scope, we may be waiting a bit longer than expected, but everything shown so far suggests it could be worth the wait.
It’s also coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, so most players will be able to jump in at launch. PC players can even try a demo right now.
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