Ninja Theory working on ‘psychic horror game’ Project: Mara

The English Ninja Theory, part of Microsoft, announces Project: Mara, a horror game that focuses on psychological problems. It’s not the only game with that theme from the studio.

According to a video blog by Tameem Antoniades, co-founder of the studio, the game should “represent psychic terror.” The studio draws on ‘personal experiences and in-depth research’. According to Antoniades, the game has only one character and is set in a location. However, in the game’s first short trailer, a second character appears in the background.

In the video blog, Antoniades explains that the studio has two more games in production. It is working on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the follow-up to 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The studio is also working on the already quite experimental The Insight Project. Psychological problems are also central in those two games. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice received acclaim because the creators pay attention to people suffering from psychosis in the game. Similar themes return in the successor.

With The Insight Project, the studio goes one step further. The studio tries to help people with psychological problems with the game. According to the makers, a game like The Insight Project offers players a chance to confront their fears. Because an environment can easily be created in a game in which fears can be credibly portrayed, players can learn to deal with them through the game. None of the three projects is known when they will come to market.