Dark Trip Expands with Ritual Express VR Nightmare
Dark Trip, iTales VR’s psychedelic horror escape room, just released the full Ritual Express room. Players swallow pills triggering mind-bending hallucinations to crack puzzles in a warped train station. The latest trailer showcases surreal shifts from sober drabness to colorful chaos.
You play investigator hunting missing Olga in a Nazi-tainted German lab. Occult rituals merge infernal planes, blurring reality. Drug trips reveal clues hidden from straight eyes – genius mechanic forcing sobriety toggles.
Ritual Express: Train to Hell
New room blends abandoned station with signature trips. Room 13 demands clue hunts: artifacts, diaries amid bio-machines, torture remnants. Sober: search basics. High: walls breathe, objects warp, secrets emerge.
Approx 1-2 hours per room, Episode 1 totals 10 packed spaces. Dynamic puzzles change per state – replay gold for missed paths.
Core Gameplay: Trip to Survive
- Pill-popping triggers 3D hallucinations
- Collect clues unlocking narrative
- Interact room-scale: grab, teleport, smooth locos
- Medium characters with fetish outfits, animations
- Lovecraft meets occult science, time travel
Mediums resist Triptych madness. Antagonist Mengele drugs them for experiments. Story unfolds via notebooks, subject logs.
| State | Puzzle Style | Visuals |
|---|---|---|
| Sober | Standard search | Grim lab realism |
| Tripping | Hidden reveals | Neon warp, creatures |
Controversy and Developer Journey
Themes spark debate: explicit drugs, sadomaso elements, Nazi undertones. Steam review took months for full build scrutiny. YouTube age-gates trailers. Devs navigated hurdles, won DevGAMM Roast 2025.
Bulgarian duo Alex/Andrei bootstrapped. Episode 1 dropped April Meta Store: 10 rooms, 8 languages, refined VR moves. Free SideQuest demo hooks first rooms.
Platforms and Access
Quest 2/3 Early Access Meta Store ($10.99 Episode 1). Steam wishlist for full release. SideQuest demo free. Multiplayer? Solo focus now.
Regular updates: localizations, animations, mechanics polish based on feedback.
Community Buzz and Tips
Players rave visuals, uniqueness. Critics note controversy risks alienating. Reddit devs active – wishlist pleas, key requests.
- Toggle sobriety often
- Clue journal tracks progress
- Room-scale for immersion
- Sound vital – whispers clue
- Save often mid-trip
FAQs
Q: VR only?
A: Yes, Quest 2/3 optimized.
Q: Scary or weird?
A: Unsettling psychedelic horror, no jumpscares.
Q: Drug sim accurate?
A: Stylized trips alter puzzles/enviro.
Q: Length Episode 1?
A: 3-5 hours core, more replays.
Q: Full release when?
A: EA ongoing, full post-Episodes.
Q: Demo available?
A: Free SideQuest prologue.
Q: Fetish content heavy?
A: Themed outfits, optional interactions.
Conclusion
Dark Trip Ritual Express pushes VR boundaries: drug-fueled puzzles, occult dread, bold themes. Trailer rejected by showcases? Better here. Dev passion shines amid hurdles. Quest owners, demo dive into madness. Ritual Express boards – all aboard the trip.