Cape Hideous

Released Oct 2024

Amongst the motliest of all crews, an enigmatic woman prepares the ship to enter an intense thunderstorm raging in the middle of the ocean. What otherworldly mysteries lie within?

97% positive · 256 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to buy

Steam Updated 8 Oct 2026 $2.99 $5.99 −50%

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Evaluation

Cape Hideous launched on October 25, 2024 as a self-contained, 30-40 minute interactive story experience. The store description presents it as a complete, finished work — it describes a specific, bounded narrative with a defined set of features and no mention of additional content, updates, or expansions to come. After launch, the developer posted two minor bug fixes on November 21, 2024 to remove a leftover testing shortcut, and there has been no developer communication since. There are no DLC listings, no roadmap, no announced future content, and no post-launch update pattern. This game appears to have been designed and released as a finished product from day one.

Evidence

Store description presents a complete, bounded experience: a 30-40 minute interactive mystery story with a defined feature set and no mention of planned additional content.

description · Oct 25, 2024 source development ending

high

Minor bug fix removing a leftover testing hotkey — the only post-launch developer activity on record.

news post · Nov 21, 2024 source ambiguous

low

Media

Details

Developer

Jake Clover

Publisher

Nonsense Machine

Achievements

Platform

Windows

Controller

full support

Steam Deck

Not rated

Players

Single-player

Adventure Pirates Surreal Mystery Metroidvania 2D Story Rich Colorful Psychedelic Magic Stylized Linear Exploration Casual Puzzle

About this game

A beautiful, cloudless day on the ocean. The hustle and bustle of the crew's activities ring out in an endless drone. The salt spray on the sundried skin - invigorating. Wait, you're facing the wrong way. Turn around...

An intense storm cloud, almost black with menace, looms above the world. And we're heading straight for it...

We must prepare the ship and ourselves for whatever we find inside.

Features:

- A 30-40 minute interactive, mystery-laden story.

- Explore a strange pirate ship to find and roll up all the flags and sails.

- Interact with oddball denizens, and navigate underwater mazes.

- Intricately detailed artwork and animation, that will move you.

- A collection of weird and wonderful characters, some of which love eating things that aren't food.

- Whoa! Some action.

- Disturb a parrot, pet a cat.

- An original soundtrack by magicdweedoo, that shifts the fibres of the soul.

BEST EXPERIENCED WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS, WITH NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES.