Chapter 1 is available for free!

On January 13th, I announced that Chapter 1 would become free-to-play, and immediately submitted a ticket to Steam Support (note: you can't simply make a paid game free through the interface).

And finally, I received confirmation—the game is now free!

Please play! Write reviews (honest ones), leave comments in the community. This can genuinely influence how soon a continuation might come out (I really hope so!).

About the Game

MEET YOUR DOUBLE

You wake up. Morning. St. Petersburg, 19th Century. And you're about to meet someone who looks exactly like you. Lives like you. Steals your life.

What begins as a psychological nightmare becomes an interactive game of identity, madness, and the terror of self-recognition.

Based on Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1846 novella The Double, this is not a retelling - it's a modern exploration where literary horror becomes interactive horror.

THE UNIQUE CARD SYSTEM: FATE MEETS STRATEGY

Every confrontation with your Double is a game of 21, but with one twist—Tarot cards that shift reality itself.

How it works:

Play 21 against your doppelgänger for survival and sanity
Draw Tarot cards that modify the rules, alter probability, bend fate
Same cards create entirely different outcomes based on your decisions
Replayability: Dozens of card combinations generate new stories

PSYCHOLOGICAL STORYTELLING

The Setting: 19th-century St. Petersburg rendered as a character-opulent halls, shadowy streets, a city that mirrors your psychological descent.

The Narrative:

Notes and journals that immerse you in fractured memory
Dialogue that shifts based on your choices and card draws
An investigation into the nature of identity itself
Themes inspired by Dostoevsky: duality, madness, self-recognition, obsession

The Horror: Not jumpscares-first. Psychological dread. The creeping realization that you might not be the "real" version.

GAMEPLAY

Card Battles (Strategic decision-making)

Hybrid 21 + Tarot system that rewards experimentation
Same deck, infinite replays, different strategies and outcomes
Tension between optimal play and meaningful narrative

Exploration (Atmospheric immersion)

Navigate St. Petersburg discovering clues, hidden items, secrets
Find objects that unlock dialogue and memories
Uncover the truth about your Double

Narrative Choices (Meaningful consequence)

Decisions that branch the story meaningfully
Dialogue that changes based on previous choices
Multiple paths through the story

Puzzles (Thematic challenge)

Logic sequences inspired by Dostoevsky's writings
Psychological challenges that mirror story themes

UPD: I was planning to release 4 chapters of this game, but later I decided to temporarily stop developing it. This is only the first chapter!

While creating this game, I was inspired by games such as: Signalis, Inscryption, Detention, as well as Russian literature, chthonic horror, and the city of Saint Petersburg.

Each chapter expands the card system's complexity and narrative depth. Also it’s a new psychological puzzles! A unified save system carries your choices forward-decisions in Chapter 1 echo in Chapters 2-4.

Post-launch: In addition to developing the game's parts, I also plan to create a free update with endless maps without having to replay the story!

WHY THIS GAME MATTERS

For Literary Enthusiasts: Dostoevsky's psychological masterpiece becomes interactive. His themes of duality, madness, and self-recognition are now something you experience, not just read about.

For Horror Fans: Psychological horror done right - atmosphere over jumpscares, dread over gore.

For Cards Games Lovers: Untypical system which compare strategy, meaning puzzles and forture!

For Strategy Players: The card system creates infinite replayability. Optimize your draws, discover new combinations, master the mechanics.

For Everyone Else: A game that stands on its own. No prior knowledge needed. Dostoevsky's themes enhance the experience but aren't required.

LANGUAGES & SUPPORT

Audio: Russian and English
Interface and texts: Russian and English

BEHIND THE SCENES

This game is developed by a solo creator with a background in game design and literary adaptation. It's a passion project inspired by classic literature, psychological horror, and innovative game mechanics.

Wishlist for launch notifications!

FINAL WORDS

Welcome to St. Petersburg, 1846.

Welcome to a world where you are not alone.

Because your worst enemy is yourself.

THE DOUBLE (4220670)

Progress