Horses is an experimental game by Italian developer Santa Ragione that defies easy categorization. It’s as surreal as an A24 film, featuring nude figures with horse heads, vividly nightmarish sequences, and an eerie, unblinking farmer.
The concept originated from an image that came to director Andrea Lucco Borlera while studying film at Università Roma Tre. Inspired by Jan Švankmajer’s 1968 film The Garden, Borlera envisioned people acting like animals with horse masks and transformed this idea into a unique game.
From the press release:
Welcome to the farm, where the sun is hot, the grass is green, and the horses are waiting for you. But as the sun sets, and shadows creep across the land, the tranquility fades, and the farm’s facade begins to crumble.
In this enigmatic first-person adventure, you play a summer worker, responsible for taking care of the farm and its animals. Guided by the cryptic rules of a mysterious farmer, you’ll decide whether to tread the safe path or allow curiosity to lead you into the farm’s hidden depths.
Game Features:
- Immerse yourself in the eerie fusion of gameplay and live-action intermissions.
- Witness the farm’s unspeakable horrors through gameplay interactions that defy reason.
- Heed the enigmatic farmer’s warnings or face the consequences.
- Withstand 14 days of spiraling dread as the twisted reality of the farm unfolds.
- A censored streamer mode is available.
The game’s content warning, featuring themes of violence, abuse, and more, hints at its intensifying surrealism and intensity.
Borlera faced numerous rejections from publishers until he met Pietro Righi Riva, co-founder of Santa Ragione and his former game design lecturer. Impressed by Borlera’s vision, Riva decided to support the project despite its niche appeal. Riva believed in the game’s unique potential, stating, “I’m not sure if it will sell well, but it should exist. Let’s make it happen.”
The game’s demo showcases its unpredictable and haunting nature, blending live-action clips with gameplay. Borlera’s innovative use of silent film-inspired title cards and original live-action footage adds to its distinctiveness.
Horses stands out as a daring arthouse farming sim, proving that gaming benefits from such unconventional projects. The game is scheduled to be released later this year on PC. You can subscribe to the game’s newsletter via its website to access the Horses demo early and to receive updates on the development and launch.
Watch the official announcement trailer below and share your thoughts with us.
