Kinetic Games is expanding into the games publishing business. Before today, Kinetic has only been known for Phasmophobia, its four-player ghost-hunting game that first exploded during the COVID pandemic and has remained a favorite since then. It has apparently done well enough to allow the team to expand its business into publishing, as it’s announced a group of five games that make up its initial publishing efforts.
The lineup includes one horror title–and man, is it a big one–and also features other kinds of games, including a punky racing game starring witches on broomsticks, a super-tense Papers, Please-like experience in space, a cozy game inspired by Spiritfarer, and a metroidvania game that does something even Hollow Knight didn’t think of. Here’s what’s coming from Kinetic Publishing.
Precognition
Developed by Half Mermaid
In terms of name recognition, Sam Barlow’s team at Half Mermaid is the biggest one attached to the new label. Project C, Half Mermaid’s previously announced working-title project with Brandon Cronenberg (of the Cronenberg body-horror film dynasty), has officially been revealed as Precognition.
The team behind Immortality, Her Story, and Telling Lies is back again with another blend of full-motion-video gameplay, non-linear storytelling, and a deep rabbit hole for players to fall into.
In Precognition, you’ll play as Diana, who discovers she can see the future after receiving an experimental brain implant. As players explore these visions, they’ll commit some to Diana’s memory based on choices they make. In turn, they will alter the course of the story, which is being co-developed with Cronenberg.
All three of Barlow’s games to date have earned widespread acclaim, so suffice it to say this is a big get for Kinetic.
Precognition is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2028.
Aether Wizard Life
Developed by Vonder Games
Fans of cozy games such as Spiritfarer and Stardew Valley will want to keep an eye on Aether Wizard Life from Vonder Games. In it, you’ll create your own mage and live out your life in a customizable castle that resembles Spiritfarer’s boat-building tools very closely. You can tend to animals, cook meals, grow crops, and work jobs around different towns.
All the while, you’ll be exploring a story with a touch of darkness to it, as a secret organization is endangering the lives of mages all over, and you’ll need to get to the bottom of the situation.
