Simone Mascot-inspired horror puzzle game Dark Pals: The 1st Floor launches on May 1, 2026 for PC via Steam.
Developed by Skunx Games, the title blends psychological horror with environmental puzzle-solving, placing players inside an abandoned children’s asylum filled with unsettling imagery and hidden secrets. The experience revolves around exploring the decaying facility, unlocking new areas, and piecing together the disturbing history behind its closure in the late 1980s.
Dark Pals‘ gameplay focuses on navigating eerie environments while solving puzzles that gradually open up deeper sections of the asylum. Along the way, players encounter unsettling mascot-like creatures, reinforcing the game’s tension through a mix of visual design and atmosphere. A unique tool, the Ink Blaster, is introduced as both a gameplay mechanic and narrative element, tied to the player’s mysterious companion.
Beyond the core game, Dark Pals: The 1st Floor is designed as a transmedia experience, with its story extending into additional content released through YouTube. This approach expands the narrative outside the game itself, offering further insight into its world and underlying mysteries.
As the first entry in a planned series, the game sets the foundation for future installments that will continue exploring new locations, characters, and interconnected storylines within the same unsettling universe.
