Not only is the horror genre thriving on the big screen thanks to films like The Backrooms and Obsession, but the same can be said about spooky video games released over the last few years. On the AAA front, both Silent Hill and the Resident Evil series have been killing it, while there are plenty of smaller releases that have taken the internet by storm, too. Sure, there are singleplayer indie hits like Outlast, but there are also awesome co-op titles like Phasmophobia and Lethal Company to sing the praises of — games that Steam’s Give Us a Sign seemingly follows in the footsteps of.
Both of the examples above shine because of their emergent gameplay, which creates fun and varied opportunities for scares in each session. Hearing a friend scream just before their audio cuts out after a creature kills them is both hilarious and terrifying, and it’s what makes co-op horror games so special. Players can be smiling while also having a pit in their stomach or feeling their heart racing, whereas with solo horror experiences, it’s usually just frights and tension the whole way through. So, while Steam users can certainly play Give Us a Sign solo, it’s recommended that they bring some pals along for the ride.
The Give Us a Sign Steam page only says “coming soon,” though the roadmap mentions a demo releasing in October and an early access launch 3-4 months after, making a January or February debut a lock.
Give Us a Sign Features at a Glance
- FEAR a reactive world, with even inanimate objects moving and watching the player.
- EXPLORE handcrafted maps to detect ghosts and gather evidence, with 20 entities planned.
- SPEAK to entities, though there is no turning back once a sign is given.
- PREPARE for every investigation at a hub, with a gear vendor and a retired hunter that provides useful info about the game’s locations.
- CREATE your own ghost hunter using high fidelity character models and customize them with unlockable clothing.
As an investigator, use specialized equipment to detect entities and gather evidence in haunted locations. Every word you speak shapes the haunting around you. Once you ask for a sign, there is no turning back.
Give Us a Sign Combines Character Expression With Horror
While the first-person gameplay of Give Us a Sign would make it easy to leave behind character customization, it seems as if it will be a big focus of the game. Not only will players be able to alter some super detailed character models, opening the door to realistic versions of themselves or recreations of established characters from pop culture, but they can unlock new clothing options for their character, too. The clothing will likely be unlocked via currency earned from successful investigations, though paid skins remain a possibility. Regardless, given how impressive the environments look, it’s great to see that the character models are similarly detailed.
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Once players have made their ideal ghost hunter, they’ll find themselves in a special hub with the rest of their team. And while players can goof off with their friends in this hub, they have two NPCs to interact with as well. The first is Gianna, a stylish pink-haired character who wouldn’t look out of place in the Cyberpunk 2077 franchise. She’ll serve as a dealer for spirit-hunting equipment, destruction tools to access new areas, and survival items. The other NPC is an old man named Oscar who has hunted for paranormal entities his entire life. He’ll have plenty of tips about the investigation maps on offer, telling players what to do and what to avoid.
Once players have their items of choice and have had a chat with Oscar to get the lay of the land, they’ll deploy into terrifying locales like haunted houses and abandoned circus setups. These handcrafted environments are visually stunning, and the cutting-edge graphics will surely enable even more effective scares. Players will directly shape the hunt based on what they say, with game chat functioning just like it does in something like Lethal Company. Given how creepy the areas in the game look, it can only be assumed that escaping alive with research on the entities will be easier said than done. Said entities are described as having unique behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses, making them significantly more interesting.
Give Us a Sign Developers Are Already Planning What’s Next
Those that think Give Us a Sign looks promising will be happy to know that its developer, Demir Games, has a plan in place for the future, ensuring the game gets long-term support like Phasmophobia. A season pass is listed on the Give Us a Sign Steam page, which mentions new regions, entities, and NPCs. The safe house will also be expanded through this DLC. While a PlayStation and Xbox release is expected for this particular horror title, it’s likely to remain in early access throughout 2027, giving Steam users a clear advantage. With the Steam Next Fest demo set to feature 8 of the 20 hostile ghosts from the full release, PC players should soon be able to determine whether Give Us a Sign will live up to its potential.
