Skinwalker is a 2D action hack 'n slash with a twist. The game is an emotional journey—one that follows a father as he attempts to save his sick daughter. In order to do so, he makes a deal that ultimately transforms him into a monster. From there the game features a balance of gameplay between human and beast, where every sacrifice matters.
The title is set to release in 2026 on PlayStation, Xbox and PC, but ahead of the game's full release we here at Netto's Game Room were given the opportunity to speak with the developers over at Sismo Games to learn a bit more about the title.
Hello, my name is Ben and I'm one of the co-founders of our website Netto's Game Room. Before we begin, could you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, I’m Andrés Rossi, CEO and Creative Director of Sismo Games. I’ve been a gamer for as long as I can remember. I love pixel art, horror, and science fiction. I have more than 20 years of experience in the video game industry. I enjoy all of this so much that it led me to become a professor, to share my passion and everything I’ve learned. A weekend with chocolate and a good video game is a ticket to happiness.
Skinwalker is your upcoming action game, where a father has made a deal with a "beast" to help cure his sick daughter. This transforms our lead into a monster himself, where he then unleashes mass chaos before transforming back into a human—where he then must come to terms with what he has done. Of course stories of humans turning into monsters isn't anything "new," but what would you say was the biggest inspiration in this particular case?
I wanted to create a game that could be enjoyed from a human perspective, without having to learn endless names and mythologies. I wanted a straightforward game that pulls you in and motivates you to see it through to the end. For that reason, I focused on everyday dilemmas and the challenges we all face. I turned that moment when we think, “what if I could…”, that temptation, into a pact that makes it real.
Duality and facing the dilemma of how to approach each important decision is a key differentiator. You can be a father searching for a solution to his problems, or you can turn your frustration with a difficult life into pure destruction.
As an anecdote, I changed the way I write in order to discover what made me uncomfortable and to immerse myself in those emotions. I remembered that many years ago, for some job interviews, you were asked to write a handwritten cover letter in cursive. Graphologists would study your handwriting. I took it so seriously that I started writing in cursive, and to my surprise, whenever something made me uncomfortable, my handwriting changed. That’s how I was able to explore silences—like the one that happens after someone tells you, “my daughter has cancer.”
The game will allow players to transform at will, and make decisions that will impact the overall story. While a situation could be handled as a human, the easier route might be to transform and slaughter everything in your way. Could you tell us a little more about how this mechanic is incorporated into the gameplay?
Faced with the same situation, there is more than one way to handle things. You shape your fate with every action, and the temptation of brutality is always present. I wanted to explore a situation we’ve all been through standing in line for some paperwork, being treated badly on top of it and giving you that switch to say, “no more Mr. Nice Guy,” or to stay polite and resolve everything in a civilized way.
In the game, as a human, you can solve a puzzle to move forward into a new area, or you can kill everyone and enter through a ventilation duct instead.
While playing as the beast, the game features hack 'n slash style gameplay, complete with upgrades and abilities to unlock. To unlock new powers one must kill enemies however, which sounds like it could be a double edge sword. Yes you are stronger, but at what cost? Is this something players should consider going into the game, or is it best to just go all-out?
The dilemma of having to save your daughter and transform your reality allows all your frustration to turn you into an unstoppable beast. If that loss of control grows, you improve at being brutal and even enjoying it because you chose it. If I have a supercar, why would I drive slowly? Each player will decide how to play. What can happen if you push the speed too far?
Skinwalker puts a heavy focus on its story, with our protagonist's daughter being the main driving force behind all of his actions—but how is the story presented? Is it a more cutscene heavy experience, or a story that unfolds during active gameplay? Or both?
Skinwalker is a video game meant to be enjoyed after a hectic day or during a relaxed, rainy weekend. Everything was made by hand, which is why there’s so much care and detail in every part of the game. It’s designed to be enjoyed, not to overwhelm.
The story is intense and always present, but above all it flows naturally. There are cinematics in just the right measure to develop the narrative. Your frustration and pain have turned you into an unstoppable monster, but I want to play, have fun, and feel something not memorize the first two hundred digits of number pi. We aimed to include just what’s necessary to make the game truly enjoyable.
We've spoken quite a bit about the monster, but what about the human? What is our human protagonist capable of without relying on his inner self?
When you play as a human, the game leans toward classic 1990s graphic adventures, where using an object, deciphering a code, or performing an action at the right moment reveals a different side of the game and its progression. In this way, you can also notice narrative details that you wouldn’t otherwise see.
And with both the human and monster gameplay in mind, how are the stages structured? Are these linear levels, or are things a bit more open ended?
There is a certain linearity to the levels, but the duality of being human or beast allows you to access routes and areas that change depending on how you choose to play. Entering the ventilation system that connects levels can open up alternative ways to explore.
One thing that caught my eye instantly about this title is none other than the pixel art style, and the smooth animations. Were there any challenges when it came to settling on an art style, and animating the characters?
Creating the world of Skinwalker was a whole journey. I started by building all the family moments that form the core of the game; they were illustrated and set to music. Then we moved on to the rest of the characters, all in black and white. Once that narrative drama was in place, the creature took shape by then, it already had a world where it could be born.
Everything was then animated to find the right proportions and the dynamics of the action. When I was very young, I ran an animation company, so I understand proportions, resolutions, and pixels at a deep level. We put together a very talented team of artists who understood how crucial it was to draw everything by hand, frame by frame.
As a quality test, I secretly tried all the art on an old CRT television, because it didn’t just need to look like a retro game it had to actually be one. When I showed this to the team and we achieved the desired quality, it was a great moment, a mix of amazement and curiosity. It was a long process, and the result is clearly visible in the game’s strong and distinctive identity.
Currently the title is set for release in 2026 on PS5, Xbox and PC, but are there any plans to bring it to other platforms as well?
Skinwalker will be released simultaneously on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam). We’ll look to add more platforms after launch.
Is there anything else about the game you would like to share with our readers?
I hope you enjoy Skinwalker and the invitation it offers to a fun, straightforward experience one that lets you reconnect with childhood references and, when in doubt, unleash your inner beast and paint the walls red.
We made it by hand, with a lot of love, to celebrate old-school craftsmanship and to gift a bit of healthy nostalgia
And finally just for fun, what is your personal favorite hack 'n slash of all time?
Wow, that’s a great question. There’s an Andres and a favorite hack ’n slash for every era and every platform. I spent a lot of time with Castlevania, Altered Beast, Shinobi, Ninja Gaiden, God of War, and Devil May Cry, each one on its original platform. I laugh when I think about it, because over time, with so many versions released, some of them have almost become a different genre altogether.
Before we go, I'd like to thank Andrés Rossi for taking the time to speak with me, and Team17 for making this interview possible.
To learn more about the game, you can head over to the Official Website today.
Additionally, here is the overview and trailer to learn more.
About:
In a desperate bid to save your daughter from a terminal illness, you swear allegiance to a mysterious being held captive in a top-secret research centre, where you work as a psychologist. In exchange for its freedom, it promises you a cure and grants you the ability to shapeshift into a formidable beast. Navigate the research centre, make sacrifices, wield untamed wrath to execute the prisoner’s bidding, and escape before the facility enters lockdown. A heart-wrenching situation forces your hand, and you’ll stop at nothing to save your daughter.
KEY FEATURES
- The duality between man and beast: Shift between Human and Beast symbiotically. Infiltrate secure zones in human form by solving environmental puzzles and collect sentimental items to give to your daughter to help her morale in hospital. Shed your humanity by transforming into the beast, gaining immense strength and lethal agility.
- Rich and emotional storytelling: Immerse yourself in a deeply emotional narrative, where your choices determine your daughter’s fate. Throughout the journey, you’ll face moral dilemmas and powerful emotional situations.
- Fast-paced, brutal combat: Unleash fierce, fluid combat with powerful moves that will maul anyone who stands in your way. In beast mode, you’ll have access to raw, untamed fury.
- Confront supernatural bosses: Locate supernatural creatures with unique attack patterns in the secret base and take them down. Extract their special powers for yourself to assist you in your life or death mission.
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