11 bit studios announces the publication of The Gatekeepers, a time-management mystery adventure game developed by Harvester Games. Independently developed by Remigiusz "Rem" Michalski, the game will launch on Steam in 2027.
[Warsaw, Poland · August 18, 2026] Are you willing to help Troy pull himself together and reclaim his life? 11 bit studios officially announces its latest published title—The Gatekeepers, developed by Harvester Games. The game will launch on Steam in 2027.
A railway crossing located in the remote wilderness, shrouded in fog, might not be the most common setting for a game, but it is precisely the center of this time-management mystery adventure. Troy has decided to temporarily step away from his usual daily life. He hopes this new job, almost isolated from the world, will allow him to calm down, reflect on the past, and clean up the mess left in his life. For the next month, his tasks are simple: lower the crossing barriers when trains pass, stay sober and stop drinking, and call his wife every night.
However, something seems to be waiting in the thick fog on the other side of the crossing. And the life Troy has come here to rebuild may be harder to hold together than he imagined.
The Gatekeepers is the smallest project 11 bit studios has signed for publication so far—at least in terms of development team size. This game is crafted entirely by independent developer Remigiusz "Rem" Michalski. For fans of indie horror games, he is already a familiar name. Previous titles like The Cat Lady and Lorelai left a deep impression on players with their genuinely chilling horror experiences combined with engaging and mature, profound storytelling.
The Gatekeepers Features:
Do your job
Check the timetable. Lower the barriers, watch the train pass, then raise them again. The gatekeeper's job is simple, repetitive, even nearly mundane—until every chore, every eerie phone call, and every step into the fog makes you question what truly matters. Get familiar with the daily routine, stick to the schedule, but most importantly, don't forget to keep your promise: call your wife every day.
Follow the fog
This desolate place holds more than just a lonely guard booth. Beyond the railway crossing, you'll meet eccentric neighbors, discover locked locations, ancient paths, and secrets you were never meant to know. The deeper Troy delves, the more this world seems to slowly consume him, making the path back increasingly distant.
Don't let yourself break down
Keep Troy fed, rested, and clean, and don't let his mental state spiral out of control. Hunger, exhaustion, fear, and neglect will gradually wear him down, and every missed call with Agatha will make the coming month even harder to endure. Staying sober and avoiding alcohol isn't something you can promise just on your first day on the job. Between shift after shift, endless chores, and the unknown things lurking outside, Troy must strive for this day after day.
Learn to let go
This month won't wait for you to be ready. Trains will arrive on schedule, Agatha will call, strangers will ask for your help, and the fog will always give you another reason to leave your post and step out. You can't investigate every clue, fulfill every promise, or make every day perfect. You must decide what matters most right now, what can be missed—and who Troy will ultimately become when sacrifices must be made.
About Harvester Games
Harvester Games is the personal studio of Remigiusz "Rem" Michalski. His works are known for blending unsettling surrealism with emotional themes such as grief, depression, addiction, and trauma. Michalski gained widespread attention with the psychological horror adventure game The Cat Lady, which was played by prominent content creators including PewDiePie and Jesse Cox. He has since expanded this world through Downfall, Lorelai, and Burnhouse Lane, gradually earning a loyal following with his heavy, emotionally charged narratives and lingering sense of unease.
About 11 bit studios
11 bit studios is a Warsaw-based game developer and publisher known for transforming difficult and authentic human stories into gaming experiences—from the survival dilemmas in This War of Mine, to the heavy societal construction and choices in Frostpunk, and the identity-focused puzzles in Multiple Lives. As a publisher, 11 bit studios is also committed to supporting developers and titles with distinct creative identities that evoke emotional resonance, including Indika, Moonlighter 2: Endless Vault, and The Thaumaturge. With The Gatekeepers joining its lineup, 11 bit studios continues to expand its publishing portfolio, dedicated to creating resonant entertainment experiences and uniquely charming original works.