Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator Confirms Release Date of November 6, 2025
Two-person indie developer Zeitglas tackles a retrospective look at 1920s mental health treatment in an immersive historical-mystery experience
Zurich, Switzerland - October 7, 2025 | Zeitglas, in partnership with Shoreline Games, is thrilled to announce that Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator will launch worldwide on November 6, 2025, exclusively on Steam, macOS, and Steam Deck. Sanatorium challenges players to manage an early 20th-century mental asylum using phrenology-inspired systems, moral choices, and resource management in a haunting, historically influenced world.
Players can make the choice to be gentle or barbaric in their treatment options, but are still limited to the literal cards they are dealt - the archaic, rudimentary options that existed during this experimental era. Driven by a cryptic plea for help, players will assume the role of a desperate journalist posing as a medical graduate to infiltrate the Castle Woods Sanatorium, they'll diagnose and treat patients, solve puzzles, and slowly piece together the shocking truth hidden behind the pristine facade of Castle Woods walls
Developed by a small two person team, Sanatorium initially surfaced from a university thesis looking at the evolution of psychiatric and mental healthcare over the decades, before growing into a fully immersive experience that delicately blends a dark and bloody history with a compelling mystery. Inspired by the medical procedures conducted during the early part of the 20th century, Sanatorium is an interactive thought experiment seen through the lens of historical critique that asks players just how far they're willing to go to get the answers they seek.
"Sanatorium has been a passion project for years. Our goal has been to craft a deeply immersive experience that challenges players to question their decisions and reflect on the history of mental health," said Fabian Hunziker, cofounder of Zeitglas Games. "Announcing makes all of this very real - both scary and exciting - and we can't wait to see players explore it on November 6."
Keith Kawamura, CEO of Shoreline Games, added: "Sanatorium is unlike anything else on the market. It merges strategy, atmosphere, and moral complexity into a game that will stay with players long after they've finished. The folks at Zeitglas Games have done such an amazing job putting this together and we are truly honored to be a small part of their game and help bring this bold vision to life."
Players can wishlist Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator now on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2059090/Sanatorium__A_Mental_Asylum_Simulator/
About Shoreline Games
Shoreline Games is an independent publishing studio that focuses on the multiplatform distribution and promotion of system and narrative-based games in partnership with talented development studios worldwide. More information can be found at www.shorelinegames.com
Follow Shoreline Games:
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorelinegames
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shoreline-games
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayShorelineGames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlayShorelineGames/
About Zeitglas
Zeitglas Games is a Swiss independent studio dedicated to creating immersive, thought-provoking simulation experiences. With a focus on emerging narratives and mechanics with a twist historical and psychological themes, the team blends narrative depth with unique gameplay mechanics. The studio's motto: Turn it on its head and play it again. Learn more at https://sanatoriumgame.com
Follow Zeitglas:
X: https://x.com/zeitglasgames
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeitglas_games
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@zeitglasgames
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeitglasgames
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeitglasgames
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/zeitglas.bsky.social
