Bo Mathorne, the Danish animator behind the viral horror short The Backwater Gospel, just revealed Skarven, a narrative-driven FPS that reimagines rural Denmark as a nightmare of botanical abominations and fanatical cults. Developed alongside his friend Thomas Mygind, Skarven draws heavy inspiration from Half-Life’s golden age of narrative first-person shooters while infusing uniquely Danish atmosphere and folklore. The teaser trailer showcases fast-paced combat with slides, dodges, and parries against twisted plant monsters in fog-shrouded farmlands. Coming to Steam for Windows and Linux, this small but seasoned two-person team is putting everything on the line to make the game they’ve always wanted to create.
What Is Skarven
Skarven is a first-person shooter set in an alternative Danish past where a man-made disaster 15 years ago left the countryside reeling. Fallow fields now birth strange and hostile plant life, forcing you to battle botanical abominations while navigating conflicts with a fanatical militant cult. The game promises a dark and distorted vision of Denmark’s rural landscapes, where lumbering spirit beasts wander foggy moors and retro-futuristic technology collides with traditional Nordic folklore.
The teaser shows combat that emphasizes movement and aggressive play. You’ll slide under attacks, dodge incoming projectiles, and parry enemy strikes in close quarters while wielding firearms that deliver the satisfying punch boomer shooter fans expect. Unlike pure retro throwbacks, Skarven incorporates modern shooter mechanics that make it feel contemporary despite the Half-Life narrative inspiration. The visual style blends realistic environments with stylized character designs and creatures, creating an unsettling atmosphere where familiar Danish countryside becomes alien and hostile.
The Backwater Gospel Connection
Bo Mathorne earned recognition in animation circles for The Backwater Gospel, a 2011 short film that went viral for its disturbing imagery and themes. The 10-minute horror animation depicts a desolate frontier town terrorized by the appearance of a mysterious prophet and an ominous figure on horseback. The film’s oppressive atmosphere, religious fanaticism, and descent into violence clearly inform Skarven’s aesthetic and thematic interests.
Mathorne’s background in animation suggests Skarven will feature strong visual storytelling and cinematography uncommon in indie shooters. The Backwater Gospel demonstrated his ability to create dread through environmental design, color palette, and character animation without relying on jump scares. Those same skills translate directly to game development, where environmental storytelling and atmosphere can elevate action gameplay into something more memorable. The presence of a fanatical militant cult in Skarven echoes the religious extremism explored in The Backwater Gospel, suggesting thematic continuity between the projects.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developers | Bo Mathorne & Thomas Mygind |
| Publisher | Mygind Mathorne |
| Platforms | PC (Windows, Linux via Steam) |
| Release Date | To be announced |
| Genre | Narrative FPS / Boomer Shooter |
| Primary Inspiration | Half-Life |
Half-Life Inspired Narrative Design
The developers explicitly cite Half-Life as their primary inspiration, specifically referencing the golden age of narrative first-person shooters. Half-Life revolutionized the FPS genre in 1998 by telling its story entirely in-engine without cutscenes, using environmental storytelling, scripted sequences, and NPC interactions to create immersion. Skarven aims to capture that approach while applying it to a uniquely Danish horror setting.
This narrative focus distinguishes Skarven from pure boomer shooters like DUSK or Ultrakill that emphasize pure mechanical action over story. Players can expect environmental clues revealing what happened during the man-made disaster 15 years ago, encounters with survivors or cultists that provide context, and perhaps friendly NPCs who guide or assist during key moments. The Half-Life inspiration suggests Skarven will pace its action with quieter exploration sections that build atmosphere and allow the world to breathe.
Botanical Horror and Danish Folklore
The enemy design focuses on botanical abominations rather than typical zombies or demons, creating a distinct visual identity. The teaser shows twisted plant creatures with unsettling organic movement patterns, suggesting body horror influences mixed with environmental themes about nature reclaiming abandoned farmland in hostile ways. This botanical focus connects to real-world anxieties about agricultural disasters and human interference with natural systems.
Danish folklore integration adds cultural specificity that sets Skarven apart from generic horror shooters. While specific folkloric elements remain unclear from the brief teaser, Nordic mythology includes numerous nature spirits, trolls, and mystical creatures tied to rural landscapes. The mention of lumbering spirit beasts wandering the fallow land suggests these folkloric entities have been corrupted or awakened by whatever disaster befell Denmark 15 years before the game’s events. This cultural grounding creates opportunities for storytelling that feel fresh to international audiences unfamiliar with Danish mythology.
Modern Boomer Shooter Mechanics
Despite the Half-Life narrative inspiration, Skarven’s combat looks decidedly modern in its movement options. The teaser showcases slides that let you move quickly under enemy attacks, active dodges that provide invincibility frames for avoiding damage, and parry mechanics that reward precise timing. These mechanics pull from contemporary shooters like DOOM Eternal and Ghostrunner rather than purely emulating 90s design philosophies.
This hybrid approach makes sense for attracting both retro FPS fans and younger players raised on modern shooters. Pure boomer shooters can feel dated to audiences accustomed to mantling, sliding, and responsive movement systems. By incorporating these contemporary mechanics while maintaining the narrative focus and atmospheric horror of classic shooters, Skarven positions itself as a bridge between eras. The fast-paced combat still looks lethal and punishing, maintaining the high skill ceiling boomer shooter fans appreciate while feeling more responsive than pure retro emulation.
The Small But Seasoned Team
Mathorne and Mygind describe themselves as a small but seasoned team, suggesting both have significant industry experience despite Skarven being their first game as Mygind Mathorne studio. Mathorne’s animation background from The Backwater Gospel demonstrates professional-level skills in visual storytelling and atmospheric design. The quality visible in even the brief teaser suggests this isn’t amateur work but rather experienced creators branching into game development.
The YouTube description emphasizes they’re putting everything on the line to make this game, indicating significant personal and potentially financial investment. This all-or-nothing approach often produces either spectacular successes or cautionary tales in indie development. The developers’ request for wishlists and active community engagement suggests they understand the importance of building audience interest early. Their willingness to subscribe viewers to their YouTube channel and encourage feedback indicates openness to iteration based on community response.
A Dark Vision of Rural Denmark
Setting a horror game in rural Denmark provides unique atmospheric opportunities. Denmark’s flat landscapes, foggy moors, and traditional timber-framed farmhouses create naturally eerie environments without needing exotic locations. The country’s relatively small size and strong cultural identity make it feel intimate and specific rather than generic, which enhances the horror when familiar settings become hostile.
The retro-futuristic elements mentioned in the description suggest an alternate history where Denmark developed along different technological paths. This could involve anachronistic weapons, architecture, or machinery that blend Cold War aesthetics with agricultural technology. The man-made disaster 15 years before the game likely relates to experimental technology or agricultural science gone catastrophically wrong, birthing the botanical abominations now plaguing the countryside. This grounded sci-fi horror approach differs from pure supernatural explanations while still allowing for folkloric elements through the spirit beasts.
Community Initial Reactions
The teaser generated positive reactions on Reddit and social media, with particular appreciation for the unique Danish setting and atmospheric presentation. Some initial confusion arose because fans of Warhammer Fantasy mistakenly thought the title referred to Skaven, the rat-people faction, leading to jokes about the similar naming. Once clarified, most commenters praised the visual style and movement mechanics shown in the trailer.
The Half-Life comparison resonated strongly with older FPS fans who remember when narrative-driven shooters dominated the genre. Younger players expressed curiosity about the botanical horror angle and modern movement mechanics. The main concern raised was whether two developers can deliver on the ambitious scope implied by promises of strong narrative, diverse environments, and polished gameplay. However, the quality evident in the teaser footage and Mathorne’s proven animation skills give the project more credibility than typical two-person indie FPS announcements.
What’s Still Unknown
The brief teaser leaves many questions unanswered. How long is the campaign? What specific story are you following beyond fighting cultists and monsters? Are there friendly NPCs or are you alone throughout? Does the game feature traditional level-based progression or more open exploration? What’s the exact nature of the disaster that created the botanical abominations?
Technical details also remain unclear. What engine are they using? The visual quality suggests Unreal Engine but that’s speculation. Are there weapon upgrades or customization systems? Does health regenerate or use traditional medkits? How does death and checkpointing work? These mechanical details will determine whether Skarven plays like a pure old-school shooter or incorporates modern quality-of-life features. Given the developers’ emphasis on accessibility through modern movement mechanics, they’ll likely balance retro difficulty with contemporary checkpointing rather than forcing save scumming.
Release Timeline and Platforms
No release date has been announced beyond the vague “coming soon” on Steam. The project appears to be in early development given this is the first public reveal, suggesting 2026 or later for actual launch. The Steam page lists Windows and Linux support with no mention of Mac or consoles. For a two-person team, focusing on PC makes sense to manage porting complexity.
The developers specifically request wishlists on Steam, emphasizing it would help them tremendously. For small indie studios, wishlist numbers directly impact visibility through Steam’s algorithm and can influence publisher interest if they seek external funding. Players interested in supporting the project should wishlist immediately as it costs nothing and provides valuable metrics the developers can use when pitching to potential partners or investors.
FAQs
Who is developing Skarven?
Bo Mathorne and Thomas Mygind are developing Skarven as the two-person studio Mygind Mathorne. Mathorne is best known for creating The Backwater Gospel, a viral horror animation from 2011. Both developers describe themselves as seasoned industry professionals making the game they’ve always wanted to create.
When is Skarven releasing?
No release date has been announced. The Steam page lists the release as “To be announced.” Given this is the first public reveal with just a teaser trailer, a 2026 or later release window seems probable.
What platforms will Skarven be available on?
Skarven is confirmed for PC via Steam with Windows and Linux support. No console ports or Mac version have been announced. The developers are focusing on PC to keep scope manageable for their two-person team.
What is Skarven about?
Skarven is set in an alternative Danish past where a man-made disaster 15 years ago transformed the countryside. Fallow fields now birth hostile plant life and lumbering spirit beasts. You’ll battle botanical abominations and a fanatical militant cult while uncovering what happened during the disaster.
Is Skarven similar to Half-Life?
The developers cite Half-Life as their primary inspiration, specifically its approach to narrative-driven FPS design. Like Half-Life, Skarven aims to tell its story through environmental storytelling and in-engine sequences rather than cutscenes, while maintaining continuous first-person immersion.
What is The Backwater Gospel?
The Backwater Gospel is a 2011 horror animation short created by Bo Mathorne that went viral for its disturbing imagery and themes. The 10-minute film depicts a frontier town descending into violence when a mysterious prophet arrives. Its oppressive atmosphere and religious fanaticism themes clearly influence Skarven’s aesthetic.
Does Skarven have modern shooter mechanics?
Yes, despite the Half-Life narrative inspiration, Skarven incorporates modern mechanics like slides, active dodges with invincibility frames, and parry systems. This hybrid approach blends classic narrative FPS design with contemporary movement and combat mechanics.
What are the botanical abominations in Skarven?
The enemy design focuses on twisted plant-based creatures rather than traditional zombies or demons. These botanical abominations apparently emerged from fallow fields after the man-made disaster, creating hostile organic lifeforms that threaten survivors in rural Denmark.
Conclusion
Skarven represents the passion project of two experienced developers who want to revive the narrative-driven FPS formula that made Half-Life legendary while infusing it with uniquely Danish horror and folklore. Bo Mathorne’s proven animation skills from The Backwater Gospel suggest the atmospheric presentation will deliver the oppressive, unsettling mood the project promises. The hybrid approach of combining classic narrative design with modern movement mechanics positions Skarven to appeal across generational divides in the FPS community. Fighting botanical abominations in fog-shrouded Danish farmlands offers fresh enemy design compared to the zombies, demons, and soldiers that populate most shooters. The small team size raises legitimate concerns about scope and polish, but the quality visible in even the brief teaser demonstrates professional-level work. Whether two developers can deliver a full Half-Life style campaign remains to be seen, but their emphasis on narrative focus over sprawling content suggests they understand the importance of tight, polished experiences over bloated ambition. Head to Steam and wishlist Skarven if you’ve been craving narrative-driven shooters that prioritize atmosphere and storytelling alongside satisfying gunplay. The indie FPS space needs more projects willing to slow down, build dread, and tell meaningful stories between the firefights. If Mathorne and Mygind can capture even half of Half-Life’s magic while maintaining their distinct Danish horror identity, Skarven will be essential playing for anyone who remembers when first-person shooters weren’t afraid to make you think between pulling the trigger.