CoAction, a small indie studio from Finland, has unveiled Sucks to Be in the Sticks, a dark narrative game that explores what happens when you’re a vampire stuck in a dying rural town with nothing but night-shift jobs and blood addiction. Players take on the role of 19-year-old Ilo, whose life spirals into chaos after becoming a vampire who must drink blood instead of energy like modern vampires, witnessing victims’ darkest memories with every feeding. The game launched a free demo as part of the Haunted House FearFest showcase and is targeting a Q2 2026 release on Steam.
A Different Kind of Vampire Story
Sucks to Be in the Sticks presents a fresh take on vampire mythology by grounding supernatural horror in the mundane struggles of rural working-class life. The game’s universe features vampires who have evolved to consume energy rather than blood, extracting it by shattering people’s aspirations and ambitions, effectively stripping them of their will to pursue dreams. This energy consumption is considered the civilized, modern approach to vampire sustenance.
However, protagonist Ilo remains addicted to blood despite the horrifying cost. Every time Ilo drinks blood, they experience everything their victim ever suffered, witnessing their darkest memories, traumas, and pain. This creates a vicious cycle where feeding becomes both physically necessary and psychologically devastating, forcing players to confront whether they’ll try to switch to the more wholesome energy source or continue their brutal ways while hiding their addiction for as long as possible.
Rural Finland as Horror Setting
The choice to set a vampire game in rural Finland rather than gothic castles or urban environments adds a layer of authenticity and contemporary relevance. Rural communities across Scandinavia face depopulation, economic decline, and the erosion of traditional ways of life, issues that the game explores through both metaphor and realism. The countryside becomes a character itself, representing isolation, stagnation, and the tension between tradition and modernity.
Ilo works various night-shift jobs to survive, from cleaning to crafting moonshine, each task pulling players deeper into the twisted lives of both humans and vampires living on society’s margins. This working-class perspective distinguishes Sucks to Be in the Sticks from typical vampire fiction that focuses on aristocratic bloodsuckers or urban supernatural societies. Here, vampirism becomes a lens for examining economic precarity, addiction, and how structures punish autonomy and suppress empathy.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Sucks to Be in the Sticks blends dark comedy with narrative-driven gameplay, offering players meaningful choices that shape Ilo’s journey and mental state. The game features a descent into madness mechanic where continuing to drink blood gradually erodes Ilo’s sanity. Players must balance their need for sustenance against the psychological toll of witnessing victim trauma and the practical risk of exposure.
The night-shift jobs provide the game’s structure, offering different scenarios and encounters with various characters whose lives intersect with Ilo’s. Each job presents opportunities for feeding, relationship building, and uncovering the dark secrets lurking beneath small-town normalcy. The gameplay loop involves navigating social interactions, managing Ilo’s deteriorating mental health, deciding when and how to feed, and attempting to maintain the facade of ordinary life while dealing with supernatural addiction.
Social and Political Themes
The developers describe the game as engaging with social and political issues through both metaphor and realism, exploring how structures punish autonomy, suppress empathy, and erase resistance. The vampire mythology serves as allegory for addiction, exploitation, and the ways marginalized communities are forced to consume each other to survive within failing systems.
The contrast between energy-consuming vampires and blood-drinking vampires reflects class divisions and moral hierarchies. Those who consume energy are considered civilized and modern, while blood drinkers like Ilo are treated as primitive and dangerous. This mirrors real-world stigmatization of addiction and poverty, where those struggling with substances or living in economically depressed areas face judgment rather than support.
Development and Creative Vision
Sucks to Be in the Sticks is being developed by CoAction, led by Finnish developer Uki Eiri. This marks the team’s first game, making it a debut project with ambitious thematic goals. The developers describe themselves as a small group from Finland passionate about creating emotionally resonant narratives that don’t shy away from uncomfortable topics.
In interviews and podcasts discussing the game, the development team has emphasized their desire to blend supernatural horror with emotional storytelling, creating an experience that horrifies players not through jump scares but through the psychological weight of Ilo’s situation. The game aims to make players feel the crushing reality of being trapped, whether by circumstance, geography, or supernatural condition, with no easy escape.
Visual and Narrative Style
Based on available trailers and screenshots, Sucks to Be in the Sticks features a 2D art style with dark, atmospheric visuals that emphasize shadows, muted colors, and unsettling character designs. The presentation appears to draw from both Scandinavian noir aesthetics and indie horror games that prioritize mood over graphical fidelity.
The narrative style combines dark comedy with genuinely disturbing moments, creating tonal shifts that keep players off-balance. The game doesn’t present vampirism as glamorous or empowering but as a curse that isolates Ilo and forces impossible choices. The writing reportedly explores what it means to survive in a place that offers no future, whether you’re human or monster.
Demo and Release Plans
A free playable demo for Sucks to Be in the Sticks launched as part of the Haunted House FearFest event, featured in the Creepy Cool Showcase. The demo provides players with an introduction to Ilo’s situation, the feeding mechanics, and the game’s unique atmosphere. Early feedback from demo players has praised the game’s willingness to tackle difficult themes and its distinctive setting.
The full game is scheduled to release in Q2 2026 exclusively on PC via Steam, with some sources listing Q1 2026 as a possibility. CoAction has been actively engaging with the community through social media, Reddit, and gaming forums, gathering feedback from demo players to refine the experience before launch. The developers have also conducted interviews and appeared on podcasts to discuss their creative vision and the themes they’re exploring.
Target Audience and Genre Appeal
Sucks to Be in the Sticks targets players who appreciate narrative-heavy indie games with mature themes, particularly fans of titles like Night in the Woods, Disco Elysium, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong, and other story-driven experiences that use fantastical elements to explore real-world issues. The game’s dark comedy tone and willingness to confront uncomfortable topics will appeal to audiences tired of sanitized vampire fiction.
The focus on working-class struggles and rural decline gives the game crossover appeal with players interested in socially conscious indie games. Those who enjoyed the economic commentary in Unpacking, the class exploration in We Are OFK, or the small-town decay depicted in Kentucky Route Zero will find familiar thematic territory here, albeit through a much darker supernatural lens.
Community Reception
Early community reactions to Sucks to Be in the Sticks have been largely positive, with many praising the concept’s originality and the courage to tackle difficult subject matter. Reddit discussions highlight appreciation for vampire fiction that moves beyond romance and power fantasy, instead using the genre to explore addiction, trauma, and economic hardship.
Some players have expressed concern about whether the game will handle its heavy themes respectfully, particularly around trauma and mental health. The developers have responded by emphasizing their commitment to approaching these topics with care while not softening the harsh realities their characters face. They’ve stated that the game aims to validate the experiences of those struggling in similar circumstances rather than exploit suffering for shock value.
FAQs
What is Sucks to Be in the Sticks about?
Sucks to Be in the Sticks is a dark fantasy narrative game about 19-year-old Ilo, a vampire living in rural Finland who must drink blood and witness victims’ darkest memories with every feeding. The game explores addiction, rural decline, and working-class struggles through supernatural horror.
When will Sucks to Be in the Sticks be released?
The game is scheduled to release in Q2 2026 on PC via Steam. Some sources list Q1 2026 as a potential release window, but Q2 2026 appears to be the most current target date.
Who is developing Sucks to Be in the Sticks?
The game is being developed by CoAction, a small indie studio from Finland led by developer Uki Eiri. This is their first game as a development team.
Is there a demo available?
Yes, a free playable demo is available on Steam. The demo was released as part of the Haunted House FearFest event and featured in the Creepy Cool Showcase, allowing players to experience the game’s opening and core mechanics.
What makes this vampire game different?
Unlike typical vampire games, Sucks to Be in the Sticks grounds supernatural horror in working-class rural life and treats vampirism as addiction rather than power fantasy. Every time the protagonist drinks blood, they experience their victim’s worst memories and traumas, creating psychological horror alongside physical need.
What platforms will the game be available on?
Currently, Sucks to Be in the Sticks is confirmed only for PC via Steam. No announcements have been made regarding console versions or other platforms.
What are the main gameplay mechanics?
The game features narrative choices, night-shift job simulations, feeding mechanics where you must decide when and how to consume blood or energy, relationship management with various characters, and a descent into madness system where continuing to drink blood gradually erodes your sanity.
Is the game horror or comedy?
Sucks to Be in the Sticks blends both genres, described as dark comedy with genuinely disturbing moments. The game uses humor to explore serious themes while not shying away from the psychological horror of the protagonist’s situation.
Conclusion
Sucks to Be in the Sticks represents the kind of bold, thematically ambitious indie game that challenges genre conventions while tackling real-world issues. By setting a vampire story in rural Finland and focusing on the mundane struggles of night-shift work and economic precarity, CoAction has created something that feels genuinely fresh in the oversaturated vampire game market. The decision to make blood consumption psychologically devastating rather than empowering transforms vampirism from fantasy into horror, forcing players to confront the cost of survival in systems designed to exploit vulnerability. For players seeking narrative experiences that don’t pull punches, that explore addiction and trauma with honesty, and that use supernatural elements to illuminate rather than escape from harsh realities, Sucks to Be in the Sticks is shaping up to be a must-play when it launches in Q2 2026. Make sure to try the free demo on Steam to see if this haunting tale of vampire hunger and human pain resonates with you.