Retro survival horror inspired Heartworm, adds new challenge mode and other features

Vincent Adinolfi and indie horror publisher, DreadXP, have launched the first major content update for the acclaimed retro psychological horror adventure, Heartworm. This new update adds “Challenge Mode”, an optional, increased difficulty alternative requiring stricter resource management and more careful consideration around engaging or avoiding combat situations. Beating Challenge Mode will reward players with a new costume for Sam. In addition to the new difficulty mode, the update adds a new camera mod, Steam trading cards, adjustments to the final boss, enemy balancing, and other bug fixes and tweaks. Alongside the update comes the launch of the highly-requested Original Soundtrack, featuring 60 songs composed by Adinolfi.



Step into a world where memories and mourning blur the lines between reality and supernatural visions. In this atmospheric survival horror game, you’ll follow Sam, a young woman overcome with grief after the passing of her beloved grandfather. Her quest for closure leads her into a deep rabbit hole of online forums, and ultimately to a remote haunted house up in the mountains. What begins as a desperate attempt to reconnect with the past quickly spirals into something more sinister and inexplicable, as she pushes deeper into the unknown armed with only a camera and her determination to venture further.

Blending the spirit of the survival horror classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill with modern gameplay options, Heartworm tells a deeply personal story through pre-rendered and in-game cutscenes, classic and mind-bending puzzle-solving, and limited but meaningful tense combat using a camera as your weapon to fend off what lies ahead. Featuring optional tank controls, PSX-style visuals, and retro effects, you can tailor the experience to make it feel like it’s straight out of the late 90s, or scale back the nostalgia a little bit for a more modern experience. An original soundtrack and evocative environments guide you through 4-6 hours of exploration, tension, and discovery, with multiple endings waiting on the other side.

Heartworm is available on Steam for $14.99 USD / €14.79 / £12.79 with a 15% discount for the Steam Autumn Sale, and has a free demo available. The game is available in English, French, German, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese. The Heartworm Original Video Game Soundtrack can be purchased on Steam for $2.99 USD / €2.99 / £2.49 with a 10% launch discount.