Encryption: New Psychological Horror Game Takes Players Beneath an Italian City Consumed by Fire

Encryption Reveals a Terrifying Journey Beneath an Ancient Italian City

An entire city stands deserted as wildfires rage across southern Italy. The streets are empty, the air is filled with smoke, and somewhere beneath the ancient buildings, something is waiting in the darkness.

This is the unsettling premise of Encryption, a newly announced first-person psychological horror adventure from Italian developer Digital Lighthouse Games.

Unveiled on 15 October 2026 during the Galaxies Gaming Showcase, the game follows a desperate father searching for his missing daughter as an environmental catastrophe threatens to consume one of Italy's most historic cities.

The announcement was accompanied by a reveal trailer showcasing the game's atmosphere, environments and central mystery.

Combining exploration, stealth, environmental puzzles and cinematic storytelling, Encryption is currently scheduled to arrive on PC in 2027.

For fans of atmospheric horror experiences such as SOMA and Amnesia, this could be an interesting new title to watch.

What Is Encryption About?

Players take control of Leonardo, a father desperately searching for his missing daughter, Arianna.

His investigation brings him to Matera, a historic city in southern Italy that has been devastated by a rapidly spreading wildfire catastrophe.

Once filled with residents and tourists, Matera's streets have been abandoned as the flames draw closer.

Despite the danger, Leonardo refuses to abandon his search.

As he investigates the deserted buildings and narrow streets, he begins discovering clues that suggest Arianna's disappearance is connected to something far more disturbing.

The investigation eventually leads beneath the city, into a network of ancient spaces where supernatural dangers lurk.

And Leonardo quickly discovers that he is not alone.

The game's central mystery revolves around Arianna's disappearance, the secrets hidden beneath Matera and the disturbing truth connecting the two.

Digital Lighthouse Games has deliberately kept the larger story under wraps.

What happened to Arianna, why supernatural entities inhabit the underground spaces and how the wildfire catastrophe connects to the mystery have not yet been explained.

Matera Provides an Unusual Horror Setting

One of the most distinctive elements of Encryption is its setting.

Matera is a real city in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, famous for its extraordinary historic architecture.

Its ancient districts, known as the Sassi, contain buildings and dwellings carved into the surrounding limestone.

The city is internationally recognised for its cultural and historical importance, with the Sassi and the Park of the Rupestrian Churches designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For centuries, Matera's unusual landscape has provided a dramatic setting for films and other visual productions.

However, Encryption transforms this historic location into something considerably more frightening.

In the game's near-future setting, catastrophic wildfires have forced the population to abandon the city.

The familiar sounds of everyday life have disappeared.

Buildings stand empty, streets are deserted, and the surrounding environment becomes increasingly dangerous.

The contrast between Matera's architectural beauty and the devastation caused by the fires is central to the game's atmosphere.

Rather than placing players inside a fictional haunted mansion or abandoned hospital, the developers are building their horror experience around a recognisable real-world location.

That decision could give Encryption a distinctive visual identity.

A Father's Search Becomes a Supernatural Nightmare

Although the wildfire catastrophe provides the immediate danger, the emotional centre of Encryption is Leonardo's relationship with his missing daughter.

The developers describe the game as a narrative-driven adventure built around loss, destruction and supernatural mystery.

As Leonardo searches for Arianna, he must investigate abandoned locations, recover documents and examine damaged recordings.

These discoveries gradually reveal different parts of the story.

The information he uncovers may not always be straightforward, forcing players to consider how individual clues fit together.

Leonardo is also able to communicate with his former wife, Sofia.

According to the official description, Sofia is the only person who continues answering his calls as the situation deteriorates.

This relationship provides a human connection during an otherwise increasingly isolated journey.

It also raises questions about the family's history and the circumstances surrounding Arianna's disappearance.

The developers have not revealed the answers, but the personal nature of the story could help distinguish Encryption from horror games that focus primarily on escaping monsters.

Stealth and Sound Will Be Essential to Survival

Encryption is being designed around three central gameplay elements: exploration, puzzle-solving and stealth.

Players will investigate their surroundings, search for clues and navigate increasingly dangerous environments.

However, the supernatural entities hiding beneath Matera present a threat that cannot simply be defeated through conventional combat.

The developers have described shadowy creatures that are attracted to sound.

This means the noise Leonardo makes while exploring could determine whether he remains undetected.

Moving carelessly through a dark passage or creating an unnecessary disturbance may attract unwanted attention.

Rather than encouraging players to fight their way through every encounter, the game emphasises observation, careful movement and intelligent problem-solving.

The environment itself can also become dangerous.

With wildfires spreading above ground and supernatural threats lurking below, Leonardo faces danger from multiple directions.

The result is intended to be a horror experience where survival depends on understanding the surroundings rather than overpowering enemies.

Puzzles Will Reveal Matera's Hidden Secrets

Environmental puzzles are another major part of the experience.

According to the developer, players will encounter challenges connected to ancient mysteries as well as clues concealed within ordinary surroundings.

Some solutions may require examining documents, interpreting information or paying attention to architectural details.

The studio has emphasised that players should observe their environment carefully.

Even encounters with hostile entities may require a thoughtful approach rather than direct confrontation.

This emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving could appeal to players who prefer slower, story-driven horror adventures.

It also provides an opportunity for the developers to incorporate Matera's history and unusual architecture into the gameplay.

Exactly how those puzzles will function has not yet been demonstrated in detail.

However, the announced design suggests that investigation will be just as important as avoiding supernatural threats.

Digital Lighthouse Games Is Recreating Real Locations

Perhaps the most technically ambitious aspect of Encryption is the way its environments are being created.

Digital Lighthouse Games is using its experience in 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry to reconstruct real locations from Matera and the surrounding region.

Photogrammetry involves capturing photographs of real-world objects and environments, then using that visual information to create detailed three-dimensional models.

Laser scanning can provide accurate measurements of physical spaces, helping developers reproduce architectural details.

These techniques allow artists to build environments that closely resemble their real-world counterparts.

For Encryption, the studio is combining terrestrial and aerial scanning with cinematic lighting techniques.

The environments are then reconstructed using Unreal Engine 5.

Motion capture is also being used to support character animation.

The goal is to create a convincing digital interpretation of Matera while transforming the location into a threatening supernatural environment.

For a psychological horror game, that level of environmental detail could be particularly important.

The more believable the surroundings appear, the more unsettling it may become when something impossible happens within them.

Who Is Developing Encryption?

Encryption is the debut video game from Digital Lighthouse Games, the development division of Italian media and entertainment company Digital Lighthouse Studios.

The studio is based in Potenza, Italy.

Its wider experience includes visual effects, photogrammetry, laser scanning and other technologies used in digital production.

Those technical specialities are being brought together for the company's first game.

Adriano Bizzoco, Head of Studio at Digital Lighthouse Games, has described the project as a psychological horror experience exploring supernatural themes, loss and destruction.

He has also highlighted the team's work recreating Matera and southern Italy through scanning and photogrammetry.

The studio intends to reveal more about the game's world and mysteries as development progresses.

Because Encryption is the team's first released game project, there is not yet an established catalogue of previous titles from which players can judge its gameplay.

Its eventual success will depend on how effectively the developers combine their visual technology with compelling storytelling and engaging mechanics.

What Does the Announcement Trailer Show?

The announcement trailer introduces the game's central atmosphere and its devastated Italian setting.

The focus is on a world transformed by disaster, with once-busy locations becoming eerily deserted.

The promotional footage highlights the game's realistic environments and its emphasis on cinematic presentation.

The contrast between the ancient city and the supernatural dangers concealed beneath it is a major part of the reveal.

Rather than presenting the game as an action-heavy horror experience, the announcement concentrates on tension, exploration and mystery.

That approach is consistent with the developer's description of Encryption as a psychological horror adventure.

However, a reveal trailer can only provide a limited impression of how a finished game will play.

Longer, uninterrupted gameplay footage would offer a clearer picture of the stealth systems, puzzle design and enemy behaviour.

For now, the trailer provides an atmospheric introduction rather than a complete demonstration of the game's mechanics.

Could Encryption Appeal to Fans of SOMA and Amnesia?

The announced gameplay structure places Encryption within a recognisable tradition of first-person psychological horror.

Games such as SOMA, Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Layers of Fear have demonstrated how exploration, environmental storytelling and vulnerability can create effective horror experiences.

Rather than relying entirely on combat, these games often make players feel powerless in unfamiliar environments.

Encryption appears to be pursuing a similar style of tension.

Its sound-sensitive enemies, environmental puzzles and emphasis on careful movement suggest an experience built around uncertainty and survival.

However, the Italian setting gives it a different identity.

The wildfire catastrophe introduces an environmental threat alongside the supernatural mystery.

The relationship between Leonardo and his missing daughter also provides a personal motivation for continuing into increasingly dangerous locations.

These elements could help the game establish its own personality within a crowded genre.

Whether it achieves that potential will depend on the finished experience.

When Will Encryption Be Released?

Encryption is currently scheduled for release on PC in 2027.

The game has been announced for Steam, where players can add it to their wishlists.

An exact release date has not been confirmed.

The developer's broader website has previously referenced PC and console plans, but the October announcement specifically confirms the upcoming PC release.

No individual PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo platform has been formally identified in the latest announcement.

As a result, console players should wait for a platform-specific announcement before assuming the game will be available on their preferred system.

Pricing, PC system requirements and potential special editions have also not been announced.

A Promising New Psychological Horror Experience

The psychological horror genre continues to attract independent developers looking for new ways to unsettle players.

Encryption stands out because of its combination of a deeply personal story, a real-world historical setting and a large-scale environmental catastrophe.

The idea of searching an abandoned Italian city while wildfires spread above ground and supernatural entities stalk the underground passages provides a strong foundation for an atmospheric adventure.

The developers' use of real-world scanning technology could also help make Matera feel unusually convincing.

Of course, visual realism alone does not guarantee a memorable horror experience.

The game's success will ultimately depend on its pacing, puzzle design, enemy encounters and ability to maintain tension throughout Leonardo's journey.

Nevertheless, the initial announcement offers several reasons for horror fans to pay attention.

Encryption is coming to PC via Steam in 2027, with an exact release date yet to be announced.

For players who enjoy atmospheric horror, unsettling mysteries and exploration-focused adventures, Digital Lighthouse Games' debut title could be worth keeping on the radar.