Iron Lung
Released Mar 2022
A short horror game where you pilot a tiny submarine through an ocean of blood on an alien moon.
91% positive · 11K reviews
Not yet
Released, content planned but development status unclear
Low confidence
Content Planned
Development Uncertain
Not yet
Released, content planned but development status unclear
Low confidence
Content Planned
Development Uncertain
Where to buy
Steam $7.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
Iron Lung launched on March 9, 2022 as a short, self-contained horror game. The developer shipped a substantial post-launch update on June 19, 2022 (the Lore Update / v2.0), adding an in-game story terminal, new secrets, achievements, and trading cards. At that time, the developer stated this would likely be the only major content update for the game.
In October 2023, a smaller "Cheats Update" added gameplay modifiers, and that same post announced a plan to release a free Behind the Scenes DLC once the Iron Lung movie came out — a large collection of on-set photos with written commentary.
On March 23, 2026, the developer posted a direct update confirming the Behind the Scenes DLC is still happening. They described having all the photos gathered and actively working on captions and commentary, estimating release "within the next month or two" from that date. The same post noted that nothing else for Iron Lung is concrete beyond the DLC, though ideas are being discussed.
That estimated release window — roughly May to June 2026 — has now passed as of October 1, 2026, and the DLC has not appeared in the store listing, nor has the developer posted any further update on its status. The developer's self-imposed deadline has been missed without explanation, which creates genuine uncertainty about when (or whether) the DLC will arrive. Given the developer's candid track record of communication, the absence of any update since March 23, 2026 is notable.
Evidence
Developer confirms the free Behind the Scenes DLC is still happening, with all photos gathered and writing underway, estimating release within one to two months. Notes no other concrete plans for Iron Lung beyond this DLC.
Developer announces plans to release a free Behind the Scenes DLC featuring on-set photos from the Iron Lung movie, to be released after the film comes out.
Content
1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
David Szymanski
Achievements
7
Platform
Windows
Controller
partial support
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player
About this game
Iron Lung is a short dread-driven submarine horror game from the developer of DUSK, The Moon Sliver, and Squirrel Stapler.
There is only a single porthole on the sub, and it needs to be closed due to depth pressure, so you have to navigate purely via an incomplete map, proximity sensors, sound, and a primitive external camera which can be used to take the pictures you need to complete your mission, or to get a grainy low resolution visual of what's happening outside.
Success will require resourcefulness and patience.
Then, a mysterious anomaly known as a Blood Ocean (which is exactly what it sounds like) was discovered on an otherwise barren moon. It's not the first Blood Ocean found since the vanishing, but initial scans show a collection of potentially useful anomalous locations in a deep undersea (underblood?) trench that require further investigation.
And you're the unlucky sap who gets to investigate, in an aging submarine cobbled together from rusty space station parts.
Find your way to the marked locations, photograph whatever you find there, and try to finish before the sub collapses around you... or you're discovered by whatever lurks in the blood...
FEATURES
- Experimental minimalist gameplay, where your senses are limited and anything could be lurking around you
- Glimpse your surroundings through the lens of a grainy still camera and navigate using an incomplete satellite map and proximity sensors
- Horror based around building dread and paranoia
- Original soundtrack inspired by the work of Aubrey Hodges (Doom 64)
- A short experience intended to be finished in under an hour
THE GAMEPLAY
Set entirely within a claustrophobic one-man submarine nicknamed the "Iron Lung," you must blindly navigate an ocean of blood to take photographs of key locations, and hope whatever lives below doesn't find you.There is only a single porthole on the sub, and it needs to be closed due to depth pressure, so you have to navigate purely via an incomplete map, proximity sensors, sound, and a primitive external camera which can be used to take the pictures you need to complete your mission, or to get a grainy low resolution visual of what's happening outside.
Success will require resourcefulness and patience.
THE STORY
Decades ago, every known star and habitable planet mysteriously vanished, along with whatever and whoever happened to be on them, leaving behind an empty universe of asteroids and lifeless moons where the only remnants of humanity are those who were on space stations or starships at the time. With supplies gradually dwindling and infrastructure falling into disrepair, the survivors have spent the subsequent years frantically searching for any trace of remaining natural resources. Up until now they have been unsuccessful...Then, a mysterious anomaly known as a Blood Ocean (which is exactly what it sounds like) was discovered on an otherwise barren moon. It's not the first Blood Ocean found since the vanishing, but initial scans show a collection of potentially useful anomalous locations in a deep undersea (underblood?) trench that require further investigation.
And you're the unlucky sap who gets to investigate, in an aging submarine cobbled together from rusty space station parts.
Find your way to the marked locations, photograph whatever you find there, and try to finish before the sub collapses around you... or you're discovered by whatever lurks in the blood...
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Oct 1, 2026
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