The “mascot horror” genre is about to get a fresh injection of ink. Skunx Games has officially announced that its highly anticipated debut title, Dark Pals: The 1st Floor, will launch on May 1, 2026.

Founded by Winston van Graafeiland—the creative mind behind the massive Horror Skunx YouTube channel (8.5M+ subscribers)—Skunx Games is transitioning from viral 3D animation to interactive horror. After years of building a community around unsettling digital shorts, van Graafeiland is finally letting fans step inside his twisted universe.

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What is Dark Pals: The 1st Floor?

Set in an abandoned children’s mental health facility that has been left to rot since the 1980s, the game tasks players with navigating a space that was once bright and welcoming but is now warped by neglect.

Players won’t be defenceless, however. You are equipped with Inky the Ink Blaster, a mysterious toy gun that serves as your primary tool for survival.

Key features include:

• The “Ink Blaster” Mechanic: Use your paint-shooting companion to solve environmental puzzles and interact with the world in non-traditional ways.
• Terrifying Mascots: Encounter a cast of colourful but deadly characters like Chompy Chasey, a dog with a massive head and lethal teeth, and the elusive Binky Drinky.
• Transmedia Storytelling: The game is designed to be part of a larger narrative. Additional lore and story elements will be revealed through a dedicated series of videos on the Horror Skunx YouTube channel.
• Cameos: Look out for video projections of popular YouTuber Chazington, who appears in-game to guide players through the asylum.

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A Proven Foundation

While many indie horror titles launch into the unknown, Dark Pals already has significant momentum. A demo released in February 2026 on Steam has maintained a “Very Positive” rating, with players praising the atmosphere and the unique logic-based puzzles.

“We’ve been itching for five years to make something that is truly our own,” says van Graafeiland. “Horror Skunx viewers have been asking for this for years, and we’ve finally managed to assemble a team of talented people to make this dream a reality.”

Release Details

• Platform: PC (Steam)
• Release Date: May 1, 2026
• Developer/Publisher: Skunx Games
• System Requirements: The game is optimised for mid-range builds, requiring an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 at minimum, with an RTX 2070 recommended for the best experience.

As the first entry in a planned series, The 1st Floor looks to set a high bar for psychological tension and creative puzzle-solving. You can wishlist the game or download the demo now on Steam.

Find out more here – https://s.team/a/4157130

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