The Designer's Curse

Horror· Survival Horror· Psychological Horror· Atmospheric

Released Jul 2019

Chapter 2 is OUT NOW! The first chapter of an unforgettable survival horror experience. Solve puzzles and work your way through this terrifying place. You may be more familiar with it than you initially think.

88% positive · 811 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

Medium confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

Medium confidence

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Steam Free

Evaluation

The Designer's Curse is a free-to-play indie horror game that launched on July 29, 2019 as the first chapter of a planned multi-chapter experience. The developer, CBGames (Christian), spent several years working on Chapter 2 alongside school and university commitments, providing occasional updates along the way. Chapter 2 — titled "Forgotten Horrors" — was released as a separate Steam title on April 8, 2025, fulfilling the long-standing promise of a sequel chapter. On October 31, 2025, the developer also made Chapter 2 available for free on itch.io and GameJolt, while keeping it purchasable on Steam for those wishing to support him. The store description and short description for the original game now highlight "Chapter 2 OUT NOW!" — indicating the developer considers this a completed delivery. There are no announcements of a Chapter 3 or any further content, no unreleased DLC listed, and no roadmap or developer statement indicating additional content is planned. The game launched as a finished horror experience and its promised follow-up chapter has now shipped. The last developer communication was on October 31, 2025, and no post since then has announced further development. The game appears to be complete as delivered.

Evidence

Chapter 2 ('Forgotten Horrors') officially released on Steam, fulfilling the long-promised follow-up to the original game.

news post · Apr 8, 2025 source content shipped

high

Developer made Chapter 2 available for free on itch.io and GameJolt, while keeping the Steam version purchasable. No mention of future content or a Chapter 3.

news post · Oct 31, 2025 source ambiguous

medium

Media

Details

Developer

CBGames

Publisher

CBGames

Achievements

—

Platform

Windows, macOS

Controller

—

Steam Deck

Not rated

Players

Single-player

Horror Survival Horror Psychological Horror Atmospheric Action Puzzle First-Person Stealth Exploration Free to Play Lovecraftian Indie Gore Massively Multiplayer Local Multiplayer

About this game

Chapter 2 OUT NOW!

From the young developer of Games such as "Overnight 2", "Buried Beneath" (Floating head game) and "Slender Adrift" comes a new experience.

This was made by a 15 year old.

“The Designer’s Curse”, a First Person Survival Horror Game inspired by the works of the most influential old school horror games, such as Amnesia and Penumbra, this game allows you to delve into the depths of Shaw Well Manor, finding your way through the castle reminding yourself of what you have created. With help of Original Soundtrack by Mikko Tarmia (Composer for Amnesia and Soma), this game really creates an atmosphere of fear and dread.

Explore the depths of this mansion knowing the fact that you are not alone, and you’re being hunted by the most terrifying beings, created by the protagonist himself.

Controls are listed in the games main menu and pause menu. Note, this game has no controller support, a mouse and keyboard is needed.

(IF YOU EXPERIENCE SCREEN TEARING, TURN ON VSYNC IN THE GAMES SETTINGS)

Note, this game does not have support for 21:9 ultrawide monitors. If you wish to play on such monitor, you must download the game from gamejolt.