At PAX West 2024, All Ages of Geek sat down with James from Lovely Hellplace to talk about his latest game, Dread Delusion. With its low-poly style and eerie atmosphere, this RPG pulls players into a broken world filled with strange places, tough choices, and more than a few dark secrets.
What is Dread Delusion?
Dread Delusion is an open-world RPG where players carve their own path across floating continents, surviving a shattered land full of bizarre towns, dangerous creatures, and occult mysteries.
James described it as a mysterious, dark exploration RPG, and honestly, that hits the vibe right on the head.
The world has been torn apart by a curse that seethes across its surface, forcing humanity to retreat to the sky. From mushroom forests to undead mausoleums, the landscapes are weird, haunting, and totally unforgettable. You’ll decide if you want to heal the land—or just take the power for yourself.
A Story That Grew From Strange Beginnings
The inspiration for Dread Delusion came from a pretty humble start.
James shared that when he first got into game development, he would build surreal, disconnected scenes in Unity—things like floating islands suspended in the void.
As time went on, he started working backward from those strange images, creating a full story and world around them. Today, the game’s narrative is as rich as a full novel, and Lovely Hellplace has even brought in writers to help expand the lore even deeper.
It’s the kind of storytelling that lets players either dive straight into quests or simply pick a direction and see where the world takes them.
Exploration, Magic, and Choices That Matter
In Dread Delusion, you’re not just hacking and slashing your way through enemies.
The game offers real freedom in how you face challenges—you can charm NPCs, pick locks, tap into forbidden magic, or just swing a good old-fashioned sword if that’s more your style.
The game also features a full smithing and alchemy system, letting you upgrade gear, brew potions, and craft your own style of survival. Whether you’re mastering powerful spells or making alliances with (or against) the world’s factions, your choices really do shape the world around you.
Towns offer safe spots to rest, trade, and gather information, while the wilds promise treasure, danger, and some seriously strange encounters. And no matter where you go, that low-poly retro 3D aesthetic keeps everything feeling like you’ve stepped straight into an RPG from the early 2000s—with a darker twist.
Where to Play and Support Dread Delusion
If you want to experience it for yourself, Dread Delusion is available now on Steam.
Also keep an eye on their publisher, Dread XP, who specializes in bringing unique horror games to life.
Whether you’re an old-school RPG fan or someone who just loves a good eerie adventure, this is one game you’ll want to check out.
Final Thoughts
Dread Delusion captures the magic of classic RPGs while mixing in a surreal, haunted world that feels like it’s daring you to explore every hidden corner.
It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s the kind of game that sticks with you long after you turn it off.
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