Enthusiasts of traditional survival horror should take note of Signal Veil, a game blending anime aesthetics with survival horror mechanics that incorporates fixed camera angles and psychological fright. Created by Chilean indie studio Time Hunters and distributed by Serafini Productions, a Tokyo-based horror publisher, the title is slated for release on Windows (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Signal Veil centers on Aki Mizuno, a teenager whose mother vanishes under mysterious circumstances. Aki’s sole keepsake from her mother is a paranormal flip phone that buzzes and emits eerie sounds when spiritual entities or lingering emotional remnants are in the vicinity. As Nishikawa High School becomes infested with these creatures, Aki must rely on the phone to uncover the truth behind a string of baffling disappearances and to understand her own identity.
The flip phone boasts several distinctive functions. Beyond vibrating and producing sounds when foes are nearby (akin to the radio in classic Silent Hill games), the phone’s camera allows a switch to a first-person view. When activated, it helps spot concealed hints and signals that guide puzzle-solving efforts.
Engagement with enemies necessitates detecting them before engaging. Once provoked, players must utilize the phone’s flash to momentarily incapacitate the adversaries and expose their vulnerabilities (a mechanic reminiscent of the flashlight in Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake). Only then can the foes be harmed and eliminated for good.
Signal Veil tasks players with managing resources like medicine, items, and mystical weapons to endure (interestingly, the flip phone appears to have an unlimited power source). Players must also monitor Aki’s emotional well-being, as confrontations with enemies, corrupted environments, and harrowing events can warp her perception of reality. Push her too far, and the world around her transforms, making enemies more erratic and her combat style more desperate.
Though the gameplay draws inspiration from iconic survival horror franchises like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, the game’s 90s anime visual style echoes manga series such as Yukito Ayatsuji’s Another and Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen.
Signal Veil is currently in development for Windows (Steam/Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.