Welken
By Studio Gutheil
Funded with 60,000 €
Prototype Funding 2026 / 1
"Silent Hill meets John Carpenter in the heart of Germany."
Once a year, a small German village opens its doors to the dead. This year, they accepted the invitation. 'Welken' is an unsettling survival horror game in a nostalgic PSX retro style, dragging you deep into an eerie German folk horror setting of the early 90s. Hunted by a relentless, systemic AI, you must survive in the melancholic, uncanny familiarity of the German countryside, walking among everyday farmsteads, fields, and woods. Thanks to dynamic item and NPC randomization, no two playthroughs are ever the same, making every escape attempt a uniquely unpredictable nightmare.
About the Game
What makes 'Welken' stand out from the crowd of indie horror games is not just its handcrafted, meticulous aesthetic, featuring entirely custom-made 3D assets and a gripping original soundtrack. This tailor-made PSX style perfectly captures the gritty and melancholic atmosphere of rural German folk horror. However, it is the unpredictable systems under the hood that truly set the game apart. 'Welken' breaks away from the predictability of scripted jumpscares. Instead, you are hunted by a complex stalker AI. In the absolute darkness of All Souls' Day, it relentlessly pursues you and reacts dynamically to your behavior. The level design guides you through highly condensed rural locations, from claustrophobic farmsteads to foggy woods.
The massive replay value stems from an innovative randomization system. With every playthrough, the locations of vital key items and quest NPCs change. A key that was previously hidden in a kitchen drawer might be found in the shed on your next attempt. This unpredictability not only creates extreme tension but also makes 'Welken' a perfect title for streamers and content creators, as no two playthroughs or walkthroughs are alike.
The Team
'Welken' is being developed by the newly founded Studio Gutheil, based in Hamburg. Led by founder and Game Director Benjamin Gutheil, the studio deliberately operates with a lean, agile core structure, relying on a strong network of experienced local partners and freelancers.
The technical development and programming of the complex AI systems are realized in close collaboration with Maximilian Götz (CEO of Amberdive Interactive and Gamecity alumnus), who is instrumental to the technical vision in Unreal Engine. To achieve the distinct German folk horror atmosphere, the project bridges the gap between traditional culture and gaming: The author Leona Stahlmann, known among other things for her work as a writer for Marzahn, mon amour, supports the narrative design, while musician Tomas Engel contributes to the in-house soundtrack and audio production.
With 'Welken', Studio Gutheil is transforming its successful pre-production phase, funded by the 'Press Start' grant, into its next major milestone. Combining industry experience with artistic ambition, the studio aims to establish itself as a modern German voice in the international indie market through high-quality, systemically deep horror games.
More Screenshots
