SoulByte Games, a five-person indie team, unveiled Devil of the Plague – a co-op psychological horror experience where players become plague doctors fighting ancient Sumerian demon Asag through tense ritual ceremonies. Unlike typical combat-focused horror, this game emphasizes collaboration under pressure, light management, and permanent consequences from ritual failures.
Ritual Horror – Not Just Jump Scares
The core loop revolves around “Ritual Horror” – performing complex ceremonies while enemies grow increasingly aggressive. Mistakes during rituals trigger permanent world changes: more enemies spawn, environmental hazards intensify, bosses gain new attacks. Success grants perks and role specialization for next sessions.
Players explore diverse maps including plague-ridden castles, ancient Mesopotamian tombs, and Middle Eastern bazaars. Each location features unique mechanics – collapsing tomb ceilings during rituals, bazaar crowds that hide enemies, castle courtyards with roaming undead guards. Progression operates run-based: die and restart with earned upgrades.
Light sources become survival tools. Lanterns reveal hidden paths but attract monsters. Torches illuminate rituals but burn out during combat. Flash powder creates brief safe zones at critical moments. Positioning matters – rituals require specific formations that enemies exploit if discovered.
Plague Doctors vs Ancient Evil
As mystical healers tied to Sumerian death cults, players wield ritual daggers, incense bombs, and protective sigils against Asag’s minions. The first plague deity brings mythological authenticity – stone demons, flesh-melting miasma, possessed villagers. Combat emphasizes positioning over button-mashing.
Co-op roles emerge naturally:
- Ritualist – Leads ceremonies, most vulnerable
- Warden – Defends ritual circle
- Scribe – Manages light/inventory
- Seer – Spots hidden threats
Solo play scales intelligently – AI companions handle secondary roles while player focuses ritual execution.
Unreal Engine 5 Delivers Atmosphere
SoulByte leverages UE5 for Lumen lighting that makes every shadow menacing, Nanite for detailed plague-ridden environments, and Chaos physics for destructible ritual altars. Dynamic weather affects gameplay – sandstorms obscure vision in bazaars, rain makes castle floors slippery during chases.
Performance targets 60fps across hardware. Controller support includes radial menus for ritual components, haptic feedback synced to enemy proximity, adaptive triggers tightening during tense ceremonies. Accessibility options scale enemy numbers and ritual complexity.
Early Access Roadmap
Steam Next Fest February offers first demo with castle map. Early Access April 2026 launches three locations with full progression. Roadmap includes:
| Phase | Content | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | Castle + Tomb, 15 rituals | April 2026 |
| Update 1 | Bazaar map, 10 new rituals | June 2026 |
| Update 2 | Cathedral, boss rush | August 2026 |
| 1.0 | Full campaign, endless mode | Q4 2026 |
Indie Team Punching Above Weight
SoulByte’s five developers handle all aspects – programming, art, sound, design, community. Turkish studio brings authentic Middle Eastern representation missing from Western horror games. Mature themes handled tastefully – gore contextualizes plague reality, nudity limited to ritual contexts.
Steam page already live with 1K+ wishlists. Easy Anti-Cheat ensures fair co-op lobbies. Crossplay planned between PC platforms. Modding tools promised post-launch for custom rituals and maps.
FAQs
Is solo play viable?
Absolutely. AI companions scale perfectly, handling secondary roles while you lead rituals. Full campaign accessible alone.
What makes rituals tense?
Multi-phase ceremonies require light management, enemy defense, precise timing. Failures permanently escalate difficulty.
Console versions planned?
PC Early Access first. Console ports targeted post-1.0 based on community response.
VR support?
Not at launch. Team prioritizing core experience before optional modes.
Language support?
Launch includes English, Turkish, Russian, French, German, Chinese. More planned.
Playtime per session?
45-90 minutes per run. Perfect for co-op sessions without marathon commitment.
Price point?
$19.99 Early Access, $29.99 1.0. All roadmap content included, no paid DLC planned.
Similar games?
GTFO (co-op tension), Phasmophobia (ritual investigation), Darkwood (psychological horror).
Ritual Horror Revolution
Devil of the Plague arrives at perfect moment. Co-op horror thrives on tense collaboration, and SoulByte delivers fresh Sumerian mythology to genre dominated by generic ghosts. Five-person team achieves UE5 polish rivaling AAA studios through laser focus on ritual mechanics.
February demo becomes essential Steam Next Fest download. Early Access April launch tests if small teams can sustain live service model. If SoulByte executes roadmap, Devil of the Plague joins Phasmophobia as co-op horror staple. Wishlist now – plague demons await.