Encryption is a first-person psychological horror adventure game developed for PC. Players take on the role of Leonardo, a father searching for his missing daughter Arianna amid spreading wildfires in southern Italy. The experience centers on exploration through deserted streets and underground passages in the ancient town of Matera, combined with puzzle-solving and stealth elements to avoid detection.
Gameplay
The core loop involves navigating abandoned urban areas and deeper subterranean locations while piecing together clues from scattered documents and damaged audio recordings. Multiple overlapping narratives emerge from these finds, all tying back to the central search for Arianna. Cinematic sequences advance the story through fully voiced dialogue, with calls from ex-wife Sofia providing ongoing connection to the outside world.
Stealth forms a key survival tool because shadowy figures respond directly to noise. Movement through water or activating mechanisms can alert pursuers, forcing careful pathing and timing. The environment adds further pressure through poor air quality near the fires, which affects breathing and requires monitoring. A flashlight provides visibility in dark spaces, while a noise detector helps maintain silence. An unidentified artifact carried by the player may influence later interactions.
A smartwatch tracks carried items, reviewed documents, and objectives. It also displays real-time data on heart rate, blood oxygen levels, step count, and remaining battery power. Puzzles draw from both ancient mysteries embedded in the setting and everyday objects, encouraging close observation of the surroundings. Locations draw from real architecture and landscapes of Matera and southern Italy, recreated with 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry for detailed fidelity.
Game Modes
Encryption delivers its content as a single-player narrative adventure without additional multiplayer or competitive modes. The primary experience unfolds in a linear sequence of exploration, investigation, and evasion across the surface town and underground hollows. Collectibles scattered throughout the environments unlock New Game+, which increases difficulty on a second playthrough and reveals the complete story details not accessible in the initial run.
Story and Atmosphere
The narrative builds through environmental storytelling and character interactions rather than direct exposition. Wildfires create an ever-present external threat that shapes movement and decision-making. Below the surface, additional dangers emerge that blend psychological tension with physical hazards. The setting emphasizes isolation in once-populated spaces now emptied by the encroaching disaster, heightening the sense of vulnerability during the search.
Is It Worth Playing?
Encryption targets players who enjoy deliberate pacing, sound-based stealth mechanics, and puzzle integration within a horror framework. Its focus on atmospheric exploration and narrative discovery suits those interested in psychological tension over action-heavy sequences. The game remains in development with a planned 2027 release, so current details reflect the announced systems and features. Fans of first-person adventures that reward careful observation and multiple playthroughs for full context will find the described structure aligned with their preferences. No user reviews or aggregated scores exist yet due to the pre-release status.
