The Sounding Dark

The Sounding Dark is a game set in a crypt of absolute darkness, where sound is your only way to see. Your footsteps send out neon pulses that reveal walls, doors, treasure and the creatures hunting you. Every sound can also alert them, so you must balance seeing your surroundings against staying quiet.

The crypt

The villagers went below and were lost to the dark. You enter alone, with only your footsteps and a heartbeat, to reach the Great Resonance at the bottom of the crypt. Light every anchor and lead every lost soul out; when all are safe, the exit unseals and the crypt fills with light for the first time in an age. If you die, you start the descent again.

Survive by sound

Walking reveals your surroundings through echolocation, while sneaking keeps you silent but shows you nothing. You can throw a Decoy to send hunters after a false sound, use a Tuning Fork to stun them, or ping ahead silently before entering a doorway.

The crypt’s hunters each behave differently: Stalkers chase sounds; Screechers sweep the dark with red sonar rings, and being marked draws the whole floor to you. Mimics take the shape of treasure, while Wardens follow fixed patrols and sweep an observable gaze that you can slip behind. Wailers send out pulses that give away your position, Burrowers rise from underground when a loud noise draws them, and Bellringers throw sound bombs that mark you if their blasts catch you.

Create a crypt

The in-game level builder lets you paint a crypt, place hunters and set villagers. You can then play your level or share it as a file with anyone.

Audio and accessibility

The game uses 3D positional audio, and headphones are strongly recommended. Accessibility options include rhythm assist, a screen-shake toggle, a high-contrast reveal mode and separate audio buses.