What if every ride hid a buried memory? Announced for 2026, The Amusement is a narrative virtual reality video game developed by German studio Curvature Games and co-produced by ARTE France. Expected on Steam VR and Meta Store, the title promises a unique sensory and emotional experience.
This project is part ofARTE's commitment to supporting innovative video games that explore memory, the past, and perception through interactive media. The game is funded in particular by Gamecity Hamburg and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
The Amusement stands out for its gameplay approach, which is entirely designed for virtual reality. Thanks to "redirected walking" technology, every step taken in the real world is translated into the game, allowing for an unprecedented level of physical immersion.
Players manipulate objects, solve puzzles, and freely explore attractions transformed into fragments of memory. Curvature Games, already known for titles such as Arctic Olympics and Escape Quest: Espionage Express, continues its quest for immersive storytelling and a demanding artistic approach, where each interaction feeds into the story.
"Following her mother's last wishes, Samantha visits the old amusement park left by her father for a final inspection: a magnificent maze, the ruins of Atlantis... and of course, roller coasters! Each attraction becomes an opportunity for Samantha to recall fragments of her childhood, marked by the tumultuous relationship between her parents, Bridget and Hans. Hans, who died in the Great War, still haunts the young woman's thoughts. The park is heavily inspired by the Luna Parks of the 1920s, in the post-war period, providing both the setting and the aesthetic for a game in which melancholy and nostalgia are closely intertwined."
This game is primarily aimed at fans of interactive storytelling and enthusiastsof contemplative VR experiences. Players who are sensitive to emotional narratives, poetic puzzles, and strong visual atmospheres will find an immersive and introspective universe here. Those who have enjoyed works such as Moss, Lone Echo, or The Under Presents will naturally be seduced by this offering.
However, The Amusement is not aimed at players looking for frenetic action or competitive mechanics. The experience is based more on slow exploration, puzzle solving, and narrative than on performance or speed. It is a title that favors reflection and emotion over adrenaline.
Set in a post-war amusement park, The Amusement explores the themes of loss, memory, and transmission. The game transforms entertainment into a space for contemplation, where each ride becomes a metaphor for memory. The settings combine retro architecture and fantastical elements, offering a sensitive reinterpretation of European leisure history.
With The Amusement, ARTE France continues its commitment to creating narrative and cultural games. The publisher has already made a name for itself with projects such as 30 Birds,Type:Rider, Vandals, Wednesdays, and Inua: A Story in Ice and Time. This new title confirms its desire to support works that explore collective memory and emotion through immersive technology.
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