Unterholz

Unterholz is a short, atmospheric game set near the end of the 15th century in an alternate version of medieval Pomerania. You explore a remote enclave in a dark swamp, searching its abandoned ruins and undergrowth for the truth behind the disappearance of its doomed inhabitants. The story leads toward the source of what happened and unfolds as you progress through the world.

Explore the copse

The game takes place in a compact, semi-open world that you can explore at your own pace and in a fairly non-linear order. Environmental storytelling explains much of the mystery. Along the way, you encounter several sword-combat situations and a few puzzles.

Story and atmosphere

The game contrasts the familiar image of honourable knights with what happened in its world and to its characters. Historical details are followed where possible, while elements from different periods are combined for particular effects. The main character wears decorative armour: a Renaissance interpretation of 15th-century armour, reflecting the romanticised image of knights portrayed by painters in the early 17th century.

The world includes documents designed as medieval texts from Pomerania. They are translated into Early Modern High German, use an authentic 15th-century typeface and can be inspected from all sides. Diegetic and traditional interfaces are mixed, and gameplay continues without menus or loading screens interrupting exploration, inventory checks or reading. Carefully placed sounds and music accompany your journey through the woods.

Voices and music

Professional actors voice characters who still roam the copse. Their words offer clues to what befell the land and how you might save yourself. The soundtrack was composed for the game, with some tracks created several years before development began.