DESCRIPTION
THE SPIRIT LIFT is a deck-building rogue-like horror adventure set in a haunted hotel.
It’s the 1990s. A magical elevator awakens in an abandoned hotel as several teenagers enter on a dare. They’re about to get the ride of their life, because this place is haunted on so many levels!
Make it to the top and fight the boss to learn the hotel’s secrets. And if your team checks out early? Be kind, rewind, and better luck next time…
HISTORY
The concept for THE SPIRIT LIFT was born in late 2020 during the pandemic lockdowns. Creative Director Miko Charbonneau (she/her) prototyped it on paper, looking for a way to merge her love of horror films with one of her favorite gameplay genres: deck-building rogue-likes. The original concept took place in a Blair Witch style forest, then morphed over time to a haunted hotel for gameplay and narrative purposes.
Soon the magical elevator emerged as the core game mechanic, and in some ways the main character of the game. Humans may live or die during a session, but the elevator is the one that ultimately controls their fate. A larger narrative evolved from the hotel’s backstory, full of secrets to entertain horror theory enthusiasts while still supporting the replayable game experience.
After recruiting her long-time collaborator and husband Dale Lemieux (he/him) as Lead Developer and Co-Designer, Miko enlisted a group of award-winning, talented team members:
Allyson Kelley, (she/her) Concept Artist and Creature Designer
Leah Kranz, (she/her) 3D artist
Ryako, (she/her) Composer
TwigglyBits, (she/her) UI/UX and Character Designer
TwoSenseless, (she/her) Creature Designer
Tracie Hinnant, (she/her) Social Media and Community Manager
FEATURES
THE SPIRIT LIFT combines the addictive gameplay of card battlers with the world-building of indie horror exploration. Notable gameplay features include:
Team-based start deck. Your starting team determines your strategy, so choose wisely. Each character has a special ability and a custom set of starting cards. They’ll also react differently as the story unfolds.
Equipment-based card decks. Find more equipment cards by exploring rooms. Use your deck to fight the creatures who prowl each floor.
Rogue-style run system. Each run is a unique hotel experience. Different bosses influence battles and events across a randomly generated layout.
TALKING POINTS
Genre Mashup: THE SPIRIT LIFT adds to the growing sub-genre of rogue-like deck-builders by mixing in several fresh elements: 3D exploration, an equipment-based card deck, a cast of villains inspired by classic horror tropes, and a team-focused narrative where each starting character influences strategy and story.
Horror Movie Inspiration: The art style is influenced heavily by the dream-like aesthetic of horror movies from the 70s and 80s, while the narrative pays homage to found footage and classic horror genres such as slashers and Asian ghost stories.
1990s Nostalgia: The game starts in the 1990s, giving the potential equipment a fun nostalgic flair as the characters use familiar toys and gadgets to protect themselves.
Diverse Team, Diverse Cast: We believe our games should be as multi-faceted as our team and the world around us. The story will examine and subvert horror tropes and stereotypes through the lens of our diverse cast.
Game Dev Streamed Weekly: Miko streams behind the scenes work on her games as DrMikachu on Twitch. Fans can watch the game take shape from multiple aspects and engage with the whole team through weekly streams.
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