Descending The Woods

Descending The Woods

Early access since Jul 2024

By day, tend to your farm, care for your pets, and explore the mysteries of the haunted woods. By nightfall, They will come from the woods, Beware of ghosts and demons of the haunted woods. Hide, Survive, Build, Fight and Explore in this eerie Survival Horror alone or with friends.

48% positive · 126 reviews
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam $18.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
We couldn't confirm these stores carry this game.
Green Man Gaming Steam key Search IndieGala Steam key Search
Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
Buying through an affiliate store helps support the site

Evaluation

Descending The Woods is currently in Early Access and has been actively developed since its July 12, 2024 launch. The developer (a solo/small indie studio under AIONWARE LTD) has shipped two major content updates post-launch: the first major update on September 3, 2024 (adding the building system, axe, and weather), and a second on December 15, 2024 (adding paranormal investigation equipment and night events). Throughout 2025 and into 2026, the developer has been working on an increasingly large expansion — what started as a major update grew into what they are now calling the "Kraken Expansion." On June 12, 2026, the developer published a detailed preview post announcing this Kraken Expansion is imminent ("the final post before releasing the kraken"). The expansion is substantial, including entirely new combat mechanics, new monsters (Moths, Ravens), a daily contract system, persistent and upgradeable pet companions, a reworked persistent farm system (Farm 2.0), overhauled night defense, and ghost manifestation/exorcism gameplay. A companion free-to-play game called "Curse Haunters" is also part of this release. The developer had previously (June 2025) stated that a full 1.0 release out of Early Access is planned to follow this major expansion by a few weeks. The developer has been transparent about scope creep causing repeated delays — they acknowledged in November 2025 that the update kept growing beyond its original bounds for over six months. Despite the delays, communications have remained consistent and the expansion appears to be on the verge of release as of the most recent post on June 12, 2026. The game remains in Early Access with significant announced content imminent.
Evidence
Developer announces the 'Kraken Expansion' is imminent — this is described as the final preview post before release. Includes new monsters, a contract system, persistent pet companions, Farm 2.0, Night Defense 2.0, ghost manifestation, backpacks, wearable gear, and more. Also references the companion game Curse Haunters shipping with it.
news post · Jun 12, 2026 source content planned
high
Developer reveals the planned major update has grown into a full 'Major Expansion' including a completely free companion game called Curse Haunters, a full story with lore and multiple endings, a new witch antagonist, quests, new entities, a prologue, and expanded world. Developer acknowledges scope creep over 6+ months of daily development.
news post · Nov 20, 2025 source content planned
high

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
AIONWARE LTD
Achievements
23
Platform
Windows
Controller
partial support
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op

About this game

Survival Horror mixed with Cozy Farming Sim and an Open world, up to 4 Co-op

You are tasked with paranormal activities, managing a farm surrounded by haunted woods and rescuing animals from its curse. Either alone or with friends.

Farm Crops, rescue/Tame/Breed animals, and explore the cursed woods.

Seek out the cursed objects within the woods and survive long enough to lift the curse.

THE DEMO ISN'T UP-TO-DATE

  • Difficulty/World settings

  • Investigation devices like the EMF

  • Critical bug fixes

  • Quality-of-life improvements

  • The new building system, weather changes, many items and etc...

Layers Of The Woods

There are 3 layers of the woods, each having their own unique biome and horror.

With sinister underground crypts.

An always-dark woodland, Lights can barely penetrate its thick fog overhead, Some places are never the same, Ghosts relentlessly haunt the woods and will prey on the unfortunate that cross their path.

Upon entering the woods you're marked and stalked by paranormal beings, Count your steps, Remember the way back, Look for places of interest and turn back upon witnessing anything unusual for it is already too late.

The Farms

Find any farms in the woods and make it your homestead,

Your safe place, the only area that receives sunlight, But nowhere is ever safe at night.

Farming is the primary way to earn resources along with that, Capture and breed animals, Craft and buy weapons, Set up surveillance systems, Install many floodlights, Get energy detectors and hope that it's enough to survive a night.

Team Work

The Woods will change, It won't let you escape. Your farm is equipped to access surveillance imagery of the woods and real-time locations of the other players.

From your farm, Either you or your friends can access and communicate with those who are Descending The Woods [soon-to-be-haunted], By guiding them to points of interest or warning them of nearby threats.

Timed Events

Keep track of time using your wristwatch, Unusual things might happen or may only exist at certain times, Both inside and outside of the haunted woods.

Insanity and Soul

Keep your mental health in check for it will get dark and vulnerable. As you're descending the woods, You'll begin to lose your mind slowly, And eventually begin to see things that aren't there, Mistaking friendly people for blood-lusted creatures that are attacking you...

BUT it may come with a few benefits for being insane, Paranormal beings may be less prone to mark you for your mind is already possessed!

Allowing you to descend further into the depths of the woods.

It's Cozy

One of the coziest if not the coziest,

You and your friends can choose to just farm, Take care of your pets, Doze off around a campfire, Sit on a rocking chair and watch the sunset from your porch, Sell and trade your crops, craft resources, build your country farm and just relax.

Replayability

Each run is unique and benefits from procedural elements.

Within the woods, places of interest, haunted objects, paranormal territories, seeds and resource areas will change each time you start a new farm.

It's also planned to have a unique slow overtake of land either by Corruption or Decay which starts from the depth of the woods and moves toward your farm which then affects your crops.

Last evaluated Jun 20, 2026
Something about this evaluation looks wrong Report illegal or harmful content