The psychological horror game Ritual Tides showcased some level design and gameplay concepts during Gamescom 2026. Due to technical issues with the originally planned demo, a level-design version was presented instead, revealing the game's island environment, combat mechanics, and exploration systems.
Developed by Vertpaint, the game is led by Creative Director and CEO James McLeod, who previously worked on titles such as Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2. The showcase also featured a handcrafted monster statue named Agnes, whose design combines elements of a human centipede, a fleshy snail, and infant-like monstrous features.
The story follows an amnesiac woman who wakes up on a beach. She must uncover her past and gradually reveal the secrets of a fictional island and the gray coastal town of Hortus. The narrative also explores women's differing experiences when facing fear, danger, and the search for safety.
The scenes adopt a gloomy and foggy visual style, presenting a relatively realistic environment from a first-person perspective. The overall design draws inspiration from the oppressive atmosphere of Silent Hill, as well as the first-person horror experiences of Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Village.
The protagonist is not a trained soldier, so combat emphasizes weapon weight and handling pressure. Melee weapons have durability, while firearms feature recoil and heft; characters cannot casually control heavy guns with one hand like professional soldiers. McLeod stated that fleeing is often the better option, requiring players to manage resources and weapons to avoid direct confrontations whenever possible.
The climbing system requires players to use controller triggers to grip or release handholds, enhancing the sense of physicality and tension during exploration. The user interface is also minimal, avoiding conspicuous yellow markers for climbing routes and instead using white salt stains on rock surfaces as environmental guidance.
The build shown still has technical issues and is not yet ready for a public demo. Ritual Tides is planned for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but no specific launch date has been revealed so far.