Team17 Picks Up Holstin, a Horror Game with a Twist

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Team17 and Sonka have confirmed a publishing deal for Holstin, a psychological survival horror game that has been gaining attention since early 2023. Much of its appeal comes from its unusual mix of technology, visual style, and its eerie setting in 1990s Poland.

The game tells the story of a town where something has clearly gone wrong. Streets, buildings, and even animals seem to be slowly rotting from within, covered in a strange, dirty slime. To stay alive, players must search for limited supplies and gear to take on the warped creatures lurking through the ruined areas of Jeziorne-Kolonia.

One of Holstin’s standout features is its visual approach. The game uses Sonka’s custom 2XD Rendering technology, which combines detailed hand-drawn pixel art with dynamic lighting. This system allows Holstin to shift between several viewpoints, including isometric 3D, third-person shooting, first-person driving, top-down exploration, and side-scrolling sections, without breaking the flow.

Harley Homewood, General Manager at Team17, said the studio is excited about the partnership: “We have been big fans of Holstin for some time, and are delighted to be able to partner with Sonka to help realise their vision and bring the game to market.” He praised the development team for creating a game that embodies “unique atmospheric storytelling, with innovative gameplay mechanics”.

Holstin will release on PC via Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.