Check-In to Madness, The Cecil: The Journey Begins, a Psychological Survival Horror, Now Available on Steam

The Cecil: The Journey Begins is a chilling psychological survival horror game and the debut title from Genie Interactive Games. Published by Wandering Wizard, the indie publishing label under Snail Inc., the game is available now on Steam for PC, launching at a price of $19.99. For those daring enough to dive in early, a 10% launch discount is available for the first 7 days after release.

Inspired by the eerie legends surrounding downtown LA’s infamous Cecil Hotel, The Cecil: The Journey Begins drags players into a decaying, once-glamorous hotel that’s become a waking nightmare. Players step into the role of John, a man whose romantic getaway with his wife Sarah spirals into terror when he awakens alone in a dark cell. With Sarah missing and the hotel haunted by grotesque and incomprehensible guests, John must navigate twisted puzzles, face horrifying creatures, and uncover dark secrets to escape with his sanity—and possibly his life—intact.

Blending atmospheric exploration, fast-paced combat, and a story that dances on the edge of reality, The Cecil is a uniquely gripping descent into madness, all brought to life by a solo developer’s vision. Every room hides something sinister—and some secrets may be better left undiscovered.

To celebrate the launch, Genie Interactive Games is hosting a reaction contest through April 28 at 11:59 PM PST. Players are invited to post their most intense or hilarious in-game reaction videos as Instagram Reels using the hashtag #TheCecilGame and tagging @TheCecilOfficial. The top 10 submissions will win an exclusive merch box featuring a surprise hand-signed item from the game’s developer. Winners will be announced on April 30 at 12 PM PST.

What We Can Expect:

• A Haunting Setting: Explore a hotel inspired by the real-life Cecil Hotel—an iconic and unsettling location.

• Solo Developer Experience: A personal, handcrafted horror story from a single developer.

• Puzzle Meets Terror: Solve intricate puzzles while surviving terrifying encounters with nightmarish enemies.

• Launch Contest Fun: Win exclusive merch by capturing and sharing your most outrageous in-game reactions.

My Thoughts

Creepy! And then some of the creatures seen in the trailer puts some elements of gross into the mix. Obviously, with the reaction contest, there will be jump scares, too! This has all the elements for a wild ride of a game that will get people talking. Check out the trailer below. Any interest?