Absinth

Indie· Puzzle· Horror· Psychological Horror

Released Oct 2020

A psychological first-person horror experience. Set in California, USA, blurring the line between game and reality. Confront the events which completely changed Zane Zaminsky´s life.

68% positive · 100 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to buy

Steam Updated 11 Oct 2026 $1.99

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Evaluation

Absinth is a psychological horror-thriller that spent about two years in Early Access before fully launching on October 23, 2020. On October 15, 2020, the developer (blackHound Studios, publishing under Soulven Games) posted an explicit statement that "Absinth reached his final state in development" and that nothing stood in the way of release. The game then launched on October 23, 2020 as announced. A handful of post-launch bug fix and feature patches followed in late October and early November 2020 to address community-reported issues, but these were polish updates rather than new content additions. The developer's most recent notable news post (October 2023) announced a demo for an entirely new project — PERSEVERA — signaling that the studio has moved on to new work. There are no unreleased DLC listings, no announced future content for Absinth, and no sustained post-launch content cadence. The game launched as a complete, finished product and has received no content updates since late 2020.

Evidence

Developer confirmed the official release date of October 23, 2020, describing a brief organizational delay due to Steam approval.

news post · Oct 17, 2020 source development ending

high

Developer explicitly stated that Absinth has reached its final state in development and is ready for release.

news post · Oct 15, 2020 source development ending

high

Media

Details

Developer

Soulven Games

Publisher

Soulven Games

Achievements

—

Platform

Windows

Controller

—

Steam Deck

Not rated

Players

Single-player

Indie Puzzle Horror Psychological Horror Action-Adventure Thriller Psychological Action Adventure Violent Gore Early Access First-Person Aliens Story Rich

About this game

Absinth is a psychological horror-thriller by indie developer blackHound Studios. Explore the chilling world of Zane Zaminsky and discover the unsettling events of his past.

It is a weekend in late July 2018 when Zane visits the US California Redwoods only to disappear without a trace shortly after arrival. Two days later, the local Police Department locates Zane on the main road near the Redwoods after receiving an anonymous tip. Chief Inspector Carter opens the investigation a few hours later, only to discover that not only does Zane have no recollection of the past two days, but the fact that he has a daughter has been completely wiped from his memory. As the investigation unfolds, more and more clues surface to suggest Zane’s past hides more than just the answer to his amnesia.

Experience what happened to Zane and how his life changed overnight. Hide from the unknown and try to distinguish between reality and illusion. Solve dimension-unraveling riddles to reach your targets and uncover the intrigue which brought Zane’s life to ruin. Decipher secret documents to expose the truth and win against your own mind to survive. Use the innovative AR glass to analyze your environment and constantly find new ways to avoid the encounter with the devious AI.

Absinth takes you to a world of fear, darkness, and loss, but also hope. The duplicitous presentation of scenes combined with the classic dark atmosphere will have your emotions twisted and in a constant state of heightened adrenaline. Experience unique storytelling and the innovative machinations of Absinth from a real indie developer studio in a way you’ve never played before.