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Tenebris Somnia RAW IMPRESSIONS: 8-Bit Horror Meets Live Action, and It’s Pure Nightmare Fuel

Tenebris Somnia impressions featured image by OnPoint 4 Gamers

A retro survival horror game with real live action scenes from an Argentine film crew. It's creepy, it's clever and I really love it.

By CMoney · Nov 7, 2026 9:00 AM ET

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Verdict Play It Now

Tenebris Somnia is pure nightmare fuel, and I love it. It’s old school puzzle horror, but every so often it cuts to live action, and the switch from 8-bit to real footage is insane.

Watch the RAW IMPRESSIONS

Tenebris Somnia RAW IMPRESSIONS: 8-Bit Horror Meets Live Action, and It’s Pure Nightmare FuelTenebris Somnia RAW IMPRESSIONS: 8-Bit Horror Meets Live Action, and It’s Pure Nightmare Fuel

The blend of 8-bit and live action in Tenebris Somnia is insane.

CMoney, OnPoint 4 Gamers
A pixel-art woman stands beside a door marked with a demon symbol in Tenebris Somnia.
Ivan's apartment, and that door.

What it is

Tenebris Somnia is a 2D retro survival horror adventure with live action cutscenes made by an award winning film crew from Argentina. It’s developed by Saibot Studios and Andrés Borghi and published by New Blood Interactive. You solve puzzles and fight horrible creatures while you uncover a disturbing story, and the hook is simple: what if they aren’t just nightmares? It launched October 16, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S, PC and the cloud, it’s an Xbox Play Anywhere game and it’s $24.99.

A pixel-art kitchen with a washing machine and fridge in Tenebris Somnia.
Old school rooms hide old school puzzles.

The setup

You play a woman haunted by the same nightmare every night: her ex-boyfriend Ivan being torn apart by horrible creatures. She can’t reach him, so she uses the key she never gave back and walks into his apartment. What she finds is cracked, bloodied glass, a burned short film, a boarded up window and a door with a demon symbol and blood coming out of the sides. My advice? If you ever see a door like that, leave.

A pixel-art bedroom with a blue bed and nightstands.
Every room is a clue.

Old school puzzles, real scares

The puzzles are classic and they make you think. At one point you’re mixing developing chemicals and even your own blood to melt a wax seal off a door. Then the creatures show up and the panic sets in. Some of it had me backing away from the screen. The live action is so well done that it’s creepy on its own, and the vibes are nightmare fuel.

A pixel-art creature lunges at the woman in a dark green hallway.
Then the creatures show up.

I had a great time with it at Summer Game Fest 2026 too, where I met one of the developers and the actress who plays the lead.

A live-action shot of a woman in a knit hat in an elevator, seen from behind.
The live action scenes are creepy all on their own.

Verdict: Play It Now

Reader poll

Live action in games: yes or no?

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Live action in games: yes or no?

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Tenebris Somnia is difficult, unique and really, really cool. The mix of 8-bit and live action is unlike anything else out there, and I can’t wait to keep going. If you want something different and creepy, I highly suggest you try it. For more dark puzzle horror on the channel, read our Remothered: Red Nun’s Legacy RAW IMPRESSIONS.

This is not a review, so there’s no score here.

Screenshots captured by OnPoint 4 Gamers from gameplay. Featured image: OnPoint 4 Gamers.

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