Card-based detective game Hillthorn coming to PC, Switch, and smartphones in November
Raw Fury has unveiled a new trailer for the card-based detective game Hillthorn and outlined its expected release window. The game is scheduled for release in November 2026 on PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
At first glance, Hillthorn might resemble an unusual board game, but beneath its card-based mechanics lies a full-fledged detective story with a branching narrative. The developers have opted to forgo standard dialogue boxes and walls of text; instead, almost all interaction with the game world revolves around event, location, and action cards.
Players must investigate a child's disappearance by journeying to a mysterious mountain. A local forest ranger warns of a suspicious community and strange individuals who may be linked to the incident. Then things get interesting: the investigation must be conducted against the clock.
In Hillthorn, every action has consequences. A misplayed card or a poor decision can cost precious minutes, so simply cycling through options in hopes of stumbling upon the right path won't work. Players will need to analyze events, piece together clues, interrogate suspects and victims, solve puzzles, and travel between various locations.
The developers promise a branching storyline with multiple endings. This means a single playthrough won't necessarily reveal the whole story — certain decisions can steer the investigation in a completely different direction.
The creators also emphasize that Hillthorn was developed without the use of artificial intelligence. Its unique card system, detective gameplay, and the requirement for players to piece together the narrative themselves have already led to comparisons with Cultist Simulator.
Those eager to try the game before its release won't have to wait long: the Hillthorn demo is already available on Steam. The full version is tentatively scheduled to launch in November 2026 across multiple platforms.
At first glance, Hillthorn might resemble an unusual board game, but beneath its card-based mechanics lies a full-fledged detective story with a branching narrative. The developers have opted to forgo standard dialogue boxes and walls of text; instead, almost all interaction with the game world revolves around event, location, and action cards.
Players must investigate a child's disappearance by journeying to a mysterious mountain. A local forest ranger warns of a suspicious community and strange individuals who may be linked to the incident. Then things get interesting: the investigation must be conducted against the clock.
In Hillthorn, every action has consequences. A misplayed card or a poor decision can cost precious minutes, so simply cycling through options in hopes of stumbling upon the right path won't work. Players will need to analyze events, piece together clues, interrogate suspects and victims, solve puzzles, and travel between various locations.
The developers promise a branching storyline with multiple endings. This means a single playthrough won't necessarily reveal the whole story — certain decisions can steer the investigation in a completely different direction.
The creators also emphasize that Hillthorn was developed without the use of artificial intelligence. Its unique card system, detective gameplay, and the requirement for players to piece together the narrative themselves have already led to comparisons with Cultist Simulator.
Those eager to try the game before its release won't have to wait long: the Hillthorn demo is already available on Steam. The full version is tentatively scheduled to launch in November 2026 across multiple platforms.
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