Tenebris Somnia Blends Pixel Art With Live-Action Horror at BitSummit PUNCH
At BitSummit PUNCH in Kyoto, a new survival horror game titled Tenebris Somnia was shown as a playable demo. The game is a collaboration between Mason Smith, creator of FAITH: The Unholy Trinity, and Argentine filmmaker Andrés Borghi. It begins in a 2D pixel-art style reminiscent of 8-bit and 16-bit era games, then abruptly shifts to live-action cutscenes filmed with real actors and practical effects. The story follows a young woman named Julia who investigates her ex-boyfriend's disappearance after recurring nightmares of his death. The live-action sequences were produced by Borghi's studio Saibot Studios, which includes about six artists, sound designers, and programmers. Smith said the idea came from Borghi, who was inspired while streaming FAITH and realized he could combine his filmmaking background with pixel horror. The game explores themes of toxic creative partnerships and the destructive pursuit of ambition. A demo is currently available on Steam, and the full game is planned for release on PC in 2026.