Critically Acclaimed Horror Game Heartworm Launches on Steam Today

[IBJamon]

Critically Acclaimed Horror Game Heartworm Launches on Steam Today

A psychological horror experience inspired by the golden age of survival horror is available now

Los Angeles, USA - July 31, 2025 — The long-awaited psychological horror indie game Heartworm is celebrating its launch on Steam today, from the hands of game developer Vincent Adinolfi and horror maestros DreadXP. A modern homage to classic survival horror, paying tribute to genre-defining titles like Silent and Resident Evil, Heartworm combines fixed and over-the-shoulder perspectives, brain-teasers, limited combat that uses your camera as a weapon, optional tank controls, pixelation filters, a nostalgic inventory screen, and more to create a chilling journey that feels both familiar yet new.



Step into a world where memories and mourning blur the lines between reality and supernatural visions. In this atmospheric survival horror game, you’ll follow Sam, a young woman overcome with grief after the passing of her beloved grandfather. Her quest for closure leads her into a deep rabbit hole of online forums, and ultimately to a remote haunted house up in the mountains. What begins as a desperate attempt to reconnect with the past quickly spirals into something more sinister and inexplicable, as she pushes deeper into the unknown armed with only a camera and her determination to venture further.

Blending the spirit of the survival horror classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill with modern gameplay options, Heartworm tells a deeply personal story through pre-rendered and in-game cutscenes, classic and mind-bending puzzle-solving, and limited but meaningful tense combat using a camera as your weapon to fend off what lies ahead. Featuring optional tank controls, PSX-style visuals, and retro effects, you can tailor the experience to make it feel like it’s straight out of the late 90s, or scale back the nostalgia a little bit for a more modern experience. An original soundtrack and evocative environments guide you through 4-6 hours of exploration, tension, and discovery, with multiple endings waiting on the other side.

“It still feels kind of unbelievable that this day is here.”, says Vincent Adinolfi, lead developer of Heartworm. “This all started because I posted a few screenshots online, after years of wondering why I post anything online - but for some reason people really liked them [...] I just feel so lucky and privileged to have been given the opportunity to create something I've dreamed about, and I tried my best to use that opportunity to the fullest. It was a real learning experience the whole way, and it may not be perfect, but I can confidently say I am proud of what we accomplished - we really put our hearts into it.”

Heartworm is available on Steam today for $14.99 USD / €14.79 / £12.79 with a 10% launch discount, and has a free demo available The game is available in English, French, German, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, and Brazilian Portuguese.

For more information:

Wishlist on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1257030/Heartworm/
Follow Vincent Adinolfi on X: https://twitter.com/adinolfi
Follow DreadXP on X: https://twitter.com/DreadXPGames
Join the DreadXP Discord: https://discord.com/invite/sK6bjPQpFb

About Vincent Adinolfi

Vincent Adinolfi is a solo developer-turned indie studio lead who is based out of Connecticut. Vincent is a multidisciplinary artist who has been working on video games in concept since adolescence, and in practice since 2019. He is drawn toward horror and more surreal and artistic interpretations of what goes bump in the night. He aims to create beautiful and deeply unsettling games, and is currently working with his team on their first published title - Heartworm.

About DreadXP

DreadXP is a leading independent horror games publisher. DreadXP’s goal is to seek out and publish great titles, and uplift members of the indie dev community. DreadXP releases include award-winning games such as The Mortuary Assistant, Sucker for Love: First Date, My Friendly Neighborhood, Dread Delusion, and the Dread X Collections, an anthology series of mini-horror games. DreadXP’s upcoming titles include VILE: Exhumed, The Lacerator, Amanda the Adventurer 3, PIGFACE, and Paranormal Activity. DreadXP is a sister company of the horror media website Dread Central, as well as the independent horror film production company, DREAD.

To learn more about DreadXP, please visit www.dreadxp.com.