Horror Life-Sim RPG Neverway Delayed to 2027

Coldblood Inc. has announced that Neverway has been delayed into 2027.

The horror-infused life-sim RPG was previously slated for an October release, with the delay’s confirmation announced via a Steam news post. The team at Coldblood cited the delay as a reflection on both how player reception to the recent prologue demo and internal playtesting shaped further inspiration for the game’s ongoing development. Based on this feedback, Coldblood is intent on making it “…the best version of it can be.” You can read the statement below:

Hello everyone,

We’ve been hard at work on Neverway, but we’ve made the difficult decision to shift the release date to 2027.

Our process has always been about understanding what you, as a player, are feeling when you play the game and making sure that aligns with the story. Seeing how the prologue resonated with so many of you, along with internal playtests, inspired us on how the later parts of Neverway could take shape. We want to keep trusting our process and follow the game where it wants to go.

This means some of the original chapters and areas grew in a way we hope will meet your expectations. We believe in this game’s potential, which is why we decided to take this extra time to make it the very best version it can be. And don’t worry, we don’t plan on growing it any more than that. As much as we love working on Neverway, we know you’re excited to play it too and don’t want to delay it again.

Working on this game as a small team of 3 (plus a few collaborators) has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and we wouldn’t be able to do this without everyone’s love and support for Neverway!

The devs also shone a spotlight Neverway‘s development. The game is intended to have a twenty-hour runtime with 35+ world areas, 100+ interactive cutscenes, and 250+ different routines implemented for its cast of characters. Coldblood says it expects this to increase as development continues. Neverway will also have multiple endings, influenced by how the player interacts and maintains friendships with its cast of characters. Romance is also on offer and completely optional, with a viable twelve characters to catch a vibe with.

Neverway posits players as protagonist Fiona, who, after quitting her job, starts a new chapter on a farm and, coincidentally, becomes the immortal herald of a dead god. Fiona must manage her newfound role while searching for the titular Neverway, a nightmare dimension spilling over into the real world. For a deeper synopsis of the game’s mechanics, see below:

Make Friends

Meet (or date!) 10+ charming characters with unique routines and storylines. Each bond unlocks buffs and combat abilities that make your journey a little easier. Will you lie to them or tell them the truth?

Fight (and try not to die)

Neverway features a top-down, fast-paced combat with an emphasis on player expression. Craft items to customize your playstyle, and unlock combat abilities through your friendship bonds.

Rebuild Your Life

Farm and craft items, prepare meals, or just decorate your homestead. Time progresses in three blocks, and you choose when to advance: morning, afternoon, and evening. One day at a time.

Features

• Co-created by the pixel artist of Celeste
• Original soundtrack by Disasterpeace
• A slow-burning horror RPG with interactive cutscenes
• Meet or date 10+ charming characters
• Fast-paced combat, optimized for keyboard or controller
• Customize your playstyle with crafted items and combat abilities
• Farm, fish, craft, and build a new life on a remote island

Neverway Screenshots

For RPGFan’s thoughts on the game’s recent prologue demo, check out Ben Love’s hands-on preview.

With the pedigree of developers involved with indie classics such as Celeste and Hyper Light Drifter, Neverway looks to be both an eye-catching and layered experience for life sim enthusiasts. Though the delay may put out those excited for its release during this year’s spooky season, additional time to grow can only be a good thing!

Neverway will release sometime in 2027 for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.

Stay tuned to RPGFan for all news RPG!