Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator Opens Its Doors on November 6 — A Haunting Journey into 1920s Psychiatry

Prepare to confront the dark truths of early mental healthcare as indie developer Zeitglas Games, in partnership with Shoreline Games, officially announces that Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator will launch worldwide on November 6, 2025. The game will be available exclusively on Steam, macOS, and Steam Deck, blending psychological tension, historical realism, and moral decision-making in one unforgettable experience.

A Morally Challenging Descent into the Past

Set in the 1920s, Sanatorium invites players to manage a mental institution at a time when the field of psychiatry was still shrouded in mystery and misconception. Inspired by real-world treatments and experimental procedures from the era, players will have to navigate a delicate balance between empathy and cruelty — their choices shaping both their patients’ fates and their own sanity.

Driven by a mysterious plea for help, players take on the role of a journalist posing as a medical graduate to infiltrate Castle Woods Sanatorium. Within its pristine yet deceptive walls, they’ll diagnose patients, conduct procedures, solve puzzles, and uncover a chilling conspiracy that challenges their understanding of morality and medicine.

From Thesis to Thought-Provoking Game

Sanatorium began as a university thesis project exploring the evolution of psychiatric care and later transformed into a full-scale title developed by a two-person indie team. Combining rigorous historical research with an atmospheric mystery narrative, the game offers a rare fusion of simulation, strategy, and ethical reflection.

“Sanatorium has been a passion project for years,” said Fabian Hunziker, co-founder of Zeitglas Games. “We wanted to create something deeply immersive — a game that makes players question their choices and reflect on the darker corners of mental health history.”

Keith Kawamura, CEO of Shoreline Games, added:

“Sanatorium is unlike anything else on the market. It merges atmosphere, moral complexity, and strategy in a way that lingers long after you stop playing. Zeitglas has crafted something truly haunting and meaningful.”

Gameplay That Forces You to Choose

Every decision in Sanatorium carries weight. Will you treat your patients with compassion, or will desperation lead you down unethical paths? The game’s mechanics mirror the limited and often brutal medical tools of the early 20th century — challenging players to confront their own biases while piecing together the sanatorium’s secrets.

Players can wishlist Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator now on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2059090/Sanatorium__A_Mental_Asylum_Simulator/

Learn more: https://sanatoriumgame.com or via www.shorelinegames.com