Some people spend their teenage years playing horror games. The Windy Project decided to make one. A young independent developer from Lithuania, he started making horror games in May 2025, and just over a year later already has a Steam page, a free demo, a trailer on the IGN GameTrailers channel and a playthrough by CaseOh. The game is Bleach & Blood, a retro slasher with a PS1 look taking part in Steam Next Fest (October 19–26) and Steam Scream V (October 26 – November 2). SavePoint spoke with the developer by email.
A night shift gone very wrong
In Bleach & Blood, players follow Evelyn Miller through the night shifts at a small-town laundromat while a killer stalks the streets. According to the developer, the game draws its strength from contrast: mundane chores and chats with customers slowly give way to an increasingly disturbing story.
The setting, he said, was inspired by games like Bloodwash, and took shape when he found a laundromat environment pack online that helped turn the concept into something concrete. As for the kind of fear it aims for, he describes a blend of narrative mystery, jump scares, chases and tension built through atmosphere, with an ending meant to surprise in the full version.
PS1 by style and by strategy
The retro look is not just nostalgia. The Windy Project explained the choice was both aesthetic and technical: in his view, the visual simplicity of that era makes horror scarier than overly realistic graphics, while also making production faster, cheaper and lighter to run. A smart call for someone doing almost everything alone.
What is in the demo
The free opening chapter runs about 25 to 30 minutes, depending on each player’s pace. It covers Evelyn’s first night, mixes laundromat routine with exploration and unsettling encounters, reveals part of the protagonist’s past and introduces supporting characters who, according to the developer, will matter later on. For now, the demo is available in English only.
Unity, VS Code and a tight scope
The game is built in Unity, with coding in Visual Studio Code and free tools such as Audacity and Photopea for audio and images. He handles the programming and most of the writing, with suggestions from friends; some 3D models are his own, and the rest come from free and purchased assets. He also handles promotion and balances it all with his studies. Development on Bleach & Blood began in August 2026.
To keep up, he says he reuses code and assets whenever it makes sense. His biggest lesson so far, he said, has been not to inflate a project’s scope early on, to set clear goals and to take promotion seriously from the start, while few people know your work yet.
From an email to IGN
International visibility came from two directions. The trailer reached the IGN GameTrailers channel because the developer contacted IGN himself, while CaseOh found the game on his own. According to the developer, both appearances significantly boosted the number of Steam wishlists.
His advice for other indie developers with no marketing budget is to lose the fear of reaching out to content creators and press, and to make life easy for anyone who might cover the game: a demo, a trailer, screenshots and a clear press kit with easy-to-find links. He also recommends targeting outlets and creators already into similar games, personalizing each pitch and stating clearly which languages the demo supports.
Portuguese in the full release
The full version will include Portuguese localization, along with other languages. Release is planned for 2027 on PC. The developer points to mid-January, with roughly two hours of playtime, and promises some genuinely shocking twists for those who have already played the demo.
From the festivals, he hopes to put the game in front of many more players, earn a place in the genre and reach launch with solid sales. Above all, he says, he wants the story to leave a mark on players after the credits roll.
His message to players is simple: try the demo, which is free and helps a small independent developer. He admits the demo is far from perfect, but believes the full version will be worth the wait. Given the ambition and maturity with which he talks about his work, The Windy Project is a name to keep an eye on.
The Bleach & Blood demo is free on Steam. Looking for more festival picks? Check out our Steam Next Fest demo roundup.
Where to buy
Source: The Windy Project.
Max Xavier
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