The Finnish independent studio MiTale has signed a publishing agreement with developer Horsefly Games to release The Polar Darkness, a Lovecraftian folk horror mystery set in Finland during the 1980s. The partnership expands the publisher's portfolio and brings together two Finnish companies with the shared goal of introducing the project to international audiences.

Independently developed by Juho Kuorikoski, the sole developer behind Horsefly Games, the game follows a journalist arriving in the remote fictional village of Sysiluoma during the winter solstice. Assigned to investigate a controversial religious revival movement, the protagonist becomes involved in a resident's mysterious disappearance and the consequences of an approaching blizzard, turning the reporting assignment into an investigation of secrets buried within the community.

The experience combines Finnish folklore, psychological horror and cosmic horror in a slow-burning investigative adventure where dialogue, observation and deduction drive the narrative. Environmental exploration also plays an important role in solving puzzles, while the visual direction combines photographic 2D characters portrayed by real actors with 3D environments inspired by Finland's rural landscapes. The atmosphere is further enhanced by a soundtrack influenced by Finnish folk music.

The narrative unfolds over three days, during which residents follow their daily routines and events in the village evolve according to the player's decisions. These choices determine which situations and perspectives can be discovered, creating different investigative possibilities. With no combat, the gameplay focuses entirely on exploration, character development and the gradual discovery of an ancient presence that goes beyond the inhabitants' understanding.

Under the agreement, MiTale will provide financial support for the project, as well as coordinate localization, quality assurance, porting and international publishing. The collaboration will also explore transmedia expansion opportunities, developing the game's universe and intellectual property beyond its original release as a video game.

"We're incredibly excited to welcome Horsefly Games and The Polar Darkness to the MiTale publishing family. We believe in supporting distinctive creative visions and helping independent developers bring their games to international audiences. The Polar Darkness has a fascinating identity rooted in Finnish culture, folklore and atmosphere, and we see great potential in its world and storytelling. It's also particularly meaningful to us to bring together a fully Finnish team to take this project to the next level," says Natasha Skult, CEO of MiTale.

For Juho Kuorikoski of Horsefly Games, the partnership represents an opportunity to expand the project's reach without compromising its creative identity. "I'm absolutely thrilled to team up with MiTale! We share the same vision and passion for the project, and together we can take The Polar Darkness to a whole new level while fully embracing everything that makes it so wonderfully odd. Expect the unexpected. Finnish mythology and folk culture are weird, after all," comments the developer.

The setting also draws inspiration from the landscapes, architecture and traditions of Central Ostrobothnia, particularly the Kaustinen region, bringing the everyday life of Finnish rural communities closer to supernatural elements. This combination of cultural references and cosmic horror establishes the project's narrative identity, using the village's isolation and the peculiarities of its inhabitants as central elements of the investigation.

With a release planned for the third quarter of 2027 on PC via Steam and consoles, the project joins MiTale's growing publishing portfolio. The experience focuses on a combat-free investigative narrative, featuring characters portrayed by real actors, environmental puzzles and a time-based structure in which the player's decisions directly influence unfolding events.