There is a distinctive new survival crafting game capturing my attention, and it brings a unique twist by blending the survival genre with pure horror. This game, appropriately named Heat or Die, has recently been announced by Dylan Maffeis, a solo developer from Brazil working under Mounpeak Games.
Maffeis, in an email exchange, shared that the game is in its early stages of development, drawing inspiration from the open-world survival game The Long Dark and the investigation/survival hybrid Kona as the debut title for Mounpeak Games, Heat or Die is described as a “short but intense” experience, plunging players into the challenges of a snowy winter forest where the relentless stalking of a Wendigo adds an extra layer of terror.
In the midst of the snowy wilderness, players find themselves lost, accompanied only by a ravenous Wendigo. For those unfamiliar with Wendigo lore rooted in Algonquian folklore, these malevolent spirits take on various, mostly bipedal forms characterized by long limbs, sharp claws and teeth, and distinctive horns.
Folktales depict Wendigos as entities that possess humans, cursing them with an insatiable hunger, leading to gruesome acts of murder and cannibalism.
Despite the unsettling nature of this premise, it is precisely what intrigues me about Heat or Die, potentially diverting my attention from other games like Palworld and Enshrouded.
The allure lies not only in the fascination with urban legends but also in the prospect of heightening the stress and anxiety typical of open-world survival games through the presence of a terrifying monster driven by biological instincts to hunt and consume.
The Steam page for Heat or Die is currently quite minimalistic, offering only a few early development screenshots with no trailer or teaser available.
According to the description, players will explore an open world in search of vital resources to overcome challenges such as hunger, coldness, and sleep deprivation. A significant emphasis is placed on resource management, requiring strategic decisions when crafting various recipes.
The game’s major challenges seem to include navigating the densely forested open world, ensuring proximity to a campfire to avoid freezing, and stealthily maneuvering to evade the Wendigo’s pursuit.
While it is too early to predict Heat or Die’s position among the best survival games, especially in a genre saturated with popular titles, the prospect of innovation in this crowded space is encouraging. Mounpeak Games promises a trailer is in the works and will be unveiled “soon,” providing a clearer glimpse into what awaits players in this chilling survival-horror experience.
