- Bringing a tormented monk to life: the rotoscoping behind Penance - 12 May 2026
Bringing a tormented monk to life: the rotoscoping behind PenanceWhen I decided that Elías, the protagonist of Penance, was going to be a pure silhouette absolute black, no face, no texture I immediately faced a problem: how do you get a player to connect emotionally with a black shape?The answer was in the movement.If the character has no face to express, no clothes to detail, no colour to nuance then every gesture, every step, every fall has to carry all the expressiveness that the visual design has stripped away. The movement couldn't be generic. It had to be truly human.That's where rotoscoping became the obvious technique.What is rotoscoping and why does it work here?Rotoscoping consists of animating by tracing over recordings of real movement, frame by frame. It has been used in film and animation since the early twentieth century and remains one of the most effective ways of tran…
- Update 1.3 – Controls, UI & Visual Polish - 7 May 2026
Updated all control references from PlayStation to Xbox button layout (LT, RT, RB, LB, B, A, X, Y) Improved tutorial images for rhythm and shield mechanics (clearer button indicators and sizing) Fixed button reference inconsistencies across all 11 localizations Fixed various visual bugs in backgrounds and scenarios
- Update 1.2.2 – Gamepad & Build Fix - 6 May 2026
Fixed executable icon and window title showing "(DEBUG)" in taskbar Improved gamepad navigation in Settings menu — difficulty and audio options now support left/right navigation
- Update 1.2.1 – Visual Fix - 5 May 2026
Fixed white border appearing around the game window by switching to Exclusive Fullscreen mode
- Update 1.2 – Animations & Balance - 3 May 2026
Improved Elías and staff animation synchronization Fixed projectile spectre behavior and attack patterns Rebalanced faith/guilt levels across phases for a smoother experience Improved spectre animations and culpable object character animations
- Update 1.1 – Controls & UI Polish - 1 May 2026
Fixed joystick navigation speed in all menus (library, codex, settings, popups) — no more uncontrolled scrolling Shield can no longer be activated before the prayer animation completes Continue Game is now the default selection when a save file exists Locked menu options (Codex, Stats) now appear visually dimmed until unlocked Fixed language button highlight in Settings, active language and hover state are now visually distinct General gamepad navigation improvements across all screens
- Elías's journey begins today - 30 April 2026
"My tomb lies before you. My spirit remains. I will guide you toward the truth."One night. Seven canonical hours. From Matins at 3 in the morning until Compline at midnight, Elías journeys through seven scenarios hiding a truth buried for centuries. A fog-shrouded cemetery, a ruined cloister, a whispering forest, an abbey that is not what it seems, a crypt holding unspeakable secrets, a forbidden library, and a threshold between worlds where everything culminates.Faith and Guilt, a balance. Every decision, every purified object, every specter that haunts your prayer is measured in two forces that coexist within Elías: Faith and Guilt. Two bars. Two paths. A balance that the Abbey of Saint Maurice has maintained for centuries at any price.A voice that guides from beyond death. Severinus died before he could tell you the truth. But his spirit remains. Through his voice, you will uncover a…
- PENANCE Demo updated - 19 April 2026
After months of development, the demo has been fully updated. If you played it before, it's worth another visit.What's new:All three phases have been reworked, improved narrative objects, rebalanced gameplay, refined rhythm system and a new shield mechanicNow available in all 11 languages of the full gameSeverinus' Codex included, discover the alerts left by your master along the wayPENANCE launches on April 30th. If it's not on your wishlist yet, now is the time.
- PENANCE's Journey is Almost Over - 4 March 2026
Elías's journey is complete.All phases, mechanics and systems of PENANCE are now finished. The game enters its final polishing and balancing stage ahead of its April 30th, 2026 launch.Beyond the main game, we have added extra content that will enrich the narrative experience for those who want to dive deeper into the story of Saint Maurice Abbey and the mysteries hidden within its walls.Thank you for your support during Steam Next Fest. See you on April 30th.
- Updated demo available: 3 complete phases for Steam Next Fest - 18 January 2026
The Penance demo has been completely renewed and is now available on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest February 2026.This new version includes the first three phases of the game (Matins, Lauds, and Terce), offering approximately 35-40 minutes of complete experience.WHAT THE DEMO INCLUDES:Phase 1 - Matins (The Cemetery): Learn the basic purification and shield mechanics while discovering the abbey's first secrets.Phase 2 - Lauds (The Ruined Cloister): Master the two-color rhythm system and face new types of specters as the conspiracy unfolds.Phase 3 - Terce (The Whispering Forest): Discover the truth about your past as Elías while the rhythm system reaches its maximum complexity.FEATURES:Rhythmic purification system: Press at the exact moment to purify corrupted objectsFaith and Guilt management: Balance your resources or succumb under the weight of accumulated guiltTactical shield defens…
- Descent into Darkness: Development Progress on PENANCE - 4 January 2026
The investigation continues in the bowels of the abbeyPENANCE's development is progressing steadily toward its demo for Steam Next Fest in February 2026. Recent weeks have been dedicated to completing two of the game's most atmospheric and disturbing phases.The Abbey What was once a place of communion and spiritual nourishment now reveals its true nature. The stained glass windows don't depict Christian saints, but the heretical symbols of the Order of Balance: the scales, the sword, the all-seeing eye. Here, Elías discovers that heresy wasn't hidden—it was in plain sight.The Crypt Underground, where the dead should rest in peace, specters remain chained to their eternal torments. Rusted cages, profaned altars, and endless corridors where faith becomes the only refuge against absolute darkness.Development Status Currently, 5 of the 7 phases are fully operational, representing approximat…
- Demo 2.0: Double Content and New Mechanics - 26 November 2025
The new Penance demo is ready to download. This update significantly expands the gameplay experience with the first two complete phases: Matins (Cemetery) and Lauds (Ruined Cloister).Main FeaturesExpanded Rhythm System Face two-color patterns (white and green) requiring different arrow keys. The rhythm system progressively evolves, adding strategic complexity to the purification of guilty objects.Four Specter Types Spectral threats with unique behaviors:WRAITH: Visible patrol, moves toward you when you approachSEEKER: Appears only when you pray, charges rapidly after 5 secondsPUNISHER: Punishes your rhythm mistakes with sudden attacksFull Gamepad Support Complete compatibility with PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch controllers. Play your way: keyboard or gamepad.Three Difficulty Levels Adapt the experience to your style: Contemplative, Balanced, and Penance.14 Mystery Objects Collect the fi…
- Major development announcement: Core gameplay has been completely rebooted - 29 October 2025
Hello everyone,As the sole developer of Penance, the honest community feedback following the demo was a true call to action. I recognized that the prior combat system did not achieve the immersion or atmospheric tension the game deserved. Therefore, I have made the decision to completely reboot the core gameplay loop.This change is the result of a commitment to quality and the unique identity of the project. I. THE NEW RHYTHM SYSTEM: EXECUTION AND CONCENTRATIONThe central interaction system (the purification of guilt) is no longer a simple quick-time event, but a high-concentration Rhythm System.Core Mechanic: Inspired by rhythm games, visual Guilt Circles shrink toward Elias's staff.Requirement: The player must achieve perfect execution by pressing the prayer button exactly when the circle impacts the staff.Professional Design: The system implements configurable timing windows (Perfect…
- The Penance demo is now available - 17 October 2025
After months in silence, PENANCE is ready to be played.Explore a decaying monastery, uncover 50 narrative relics, and balance your Faith and Guilt to survive.This is not a game about fear. It’s about the weight of conscience.Demo available now on Steam(Headphones recommended — silence can be dangerous.)
- Designing a mechanic around inner conflict: Faith vs Guilt in Penance - 5 October 2025
Hi everyone, I wanted to share with you what I consider the most important part of my game Penance: the duality between Faith and Guilt.From the beginning I knew I didn’t want a simple health bar. The protagonist, Elias, lives torn between the faith that sustains him and the guilt that consumes him. My challenge was to turn that inner conflict into a playable mechanic.The system works as a constant balance:Faith is the resource that allows you to move forward and pray, but it drains quickly.Guilt accumulates as you interact with the world, and if it reaches 100%, it condemns the player.Both values are intertwined: gaining Faith often means carrying more Guilt, and purification is never free.This is where the purifying objects come into play. They aren’t linked to direct dangers, but they represent a fragile opportunity: they can restore Faith and reduce Guilt, though they always require…
- 🕯️ Demo now available on itch.io - 26 September 2025
We are excited to announce that the first playable demo of Penance is now live on itch.io!This demo covers Phase 1 (Matins, the Cemetery) and allows you to experience the core mechanics:Explore atmospheric gothic environmentsUse prayer to purify cursed objects and face restless spectersDiscover the first narrative fragments out of 50 that gradually unveil the mystery of the Abbeyhttps://scriptoriumartis.itch.io/penance👉 For now, the demo is exclusively available on itch.io. Our goal is to gather player feedback on gameplay, atmosphere, and narrative pacing before bringing the demo to Steam.Your impressions will help us polish the experience and make sure that Penance reaches its full potential when it launches here.Thank you for your patience and support — and don’t forget: "Each prayer brings you closer to the truth, but also draws the shadows nearer."💠 Add Penance to your Steam wish…
