Lovecraftian horror has enjoyed something of a resurgence in recent years, but few upcoming games are blending its cosmic dread with first-person shooting quite as ambitiously as Decadent. Developed by Incantation Games and published by Fulqrum Publishing, the game mixes narrative-driven horror, exploration and action while placing players in a hostile Arctic wilderness where reality itself is beginning to unravel. We got an early look at the game during Gamescom, and while there’s still plenty we haven’t seen, the project is shaping up to be one worth keeping an eye on.
What we know
Decadent is a story-driven first-person shooter that combines survival horror, exploration and RPG-inspired progression. Set during the 1920s, it follows John Lorn, a former royal explorer and Great War veteran whose obsession with the occult leaves him bonded to a mysterious parasite. His search for a missing Miskatonic University expedition leads him into the Arctic, where ancient horrors, impossible landscapes and his own deteriorating sanity become just as dangerous as the creatures lurking in the frozen wilderness.
Combat revolves around an arsenal that ranges from conventional firearms of the era to cursed weapons, alien biotechnology and mysterious artifacts, with opportunities to customize your equipment along the way. Exploration appears to play an equally important role, taking players through forests, glaciers, caves and forgotten ruins while rewarding those willing to venture off the beaten path. A dynamic sanity system influences both gameplay and presentation, causing hallucinations, panic attacks and other psychological effects as John is pushed further toward madness. Combined with character progression, unlockable traversal tools and optional detours into dangerous anomalies known as the Weirds, the game promises a blend of action, exploration and player choice when it launches on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
What we saw
Our preview is based on a hands-off demonstration shown behind closed doors during Gamescom 2025. While we weren’t able to play the game ourselves, the extended demo showcased exploration, combat, several of the sanity mechanics and a sizeable slice of the game’s environments, offering a solid impression of both the atmosphere and the core gameplay loop.
What we thought
What immediately stands out is how heavily Decadent leans into atmosphere. Rather than simply throwing monsters at the player, it appears intent on creating a constant feeling of unease through its lonely Arctic setting, oppressive environments and steadily escalating psychological horror. The Lovecraftian inspiration is obvious, but the narrative also introduces a personal motivation through John’s search for someone close to him, giving the story an emotional hook beyond simply uncovering ancient mysteries. The premise isn’t entirely original for longtime fans of cosmic horror, but it has enough intriguing ideas to keep us interested.
The sanity system also looks like it could become one of the game’s defining mechanics. Instead of functioning purely as a penalty meter, madness appears to be something players can choose to embrace, trading increasingly severe hallucinations and impaired controls for certain gameplay advantages. It’s an interesting risk-versus-reward approach that could make encounters feel unpredictable, provided the balancing works well in practice. Combined with exploration, progression systems and optional discoveries hidden throughout the world, it gives the impression of a game that’s aiming for more than a straightforward horror shooter.
Combat looked satisfying during the demonstration, with a healthy variety of period firearms complemented by stranger occult and alien weaponry. Resource management and exploration seem closely intertwined, encouraging players to search for upgrades and hidden lore rather than simply pushing from one firefight to the next. Some concerns remain, however. Based on what we’ve seen, enemy behavior may not always be as sophisticated as the game’s atmosphere deserves, and elements such as inventory management could end up feeling less polished than the rest of the experience. Visually, though, the game makes a strong first impression, pairing impressive environmental detail with unsettling creature designs, while the sound design appears equally effective at building tension through subtle ambient effects and an ominous musical score.
Perhaps our biggest question isn’t about the gameplay itself but about the game’s development. We haven’t heard or seen much of Decadent since Gamescom, and extended periods of silence can sometimes be a cause for concern. At the same time, what we’ve seen so far remains promising enough that we’re hopeful the team is simply taking the time needed to realize its ambitious vision. If Incantation Games can successfully combine its atmospheric storytelling, inventive sanity mechanics and satisfying combat into a polished whole, Decadent has the potential to become one of the more intriguing Lovecraft-inspired horror games currently on the horizon.