Anyone looking for a creepy adventure to play in November will want to check out Saraab: Beyond the Veil. Solo developer Lubna Ahmed has announced a November 3 release date for the game on PC via Steam and Itch.io, and a demo will be available for it during the October edition of Steam Next Fest.
An Arabian folklore-inspired horror visual-novel game, Saraab follows Elham, a schoolgirl whose brother has suddenly been kidnapped. Rescuing your sibling means confronting your own inner demons, who have been externalized as monsters born of Elham’s own psyche. To overcome them, she’ll have to unlock the powers of her bloodline and uncover the truth of who she truly is.
“I’m incredibly excited to bring this story to players and share a world shaped by authentic cultural themes, folklore, and emotional experiences that are rarely explored in games,” Ahmed said in a press statement. “I hope players everywhere can connect with the game’s story and characters, because ultimately, it’s a story about the human heart.”
Horror is the crux of Saraab, but healing also plays a vital role in moving the story forward. As Elham comes to terms with her destiny and beliefs, she’ll gain the ability to change reality based on the choices she makes along the way. Saraab’s narrative is complemented by hand-drawn, anime-inspired art and an emotional soundtrack, and you can expect branching storylines, gameplay focused around Elham and her shadow, and a story about confronting the past to reclaim the future.
If you’re keen to try it out, the demo will be available starting October 19.