What happens when a puppeteer becomes the puppet? In this cute action-adventure game, players must fight their way back to the real world. Nightmare Circus is looking like a cute top-down adventure that nests itself in that cute horror aesthetic.
Nightmare Circus is an action-adventure game where the player takes on the role of a puppeteer trapped in the Nightmare Realm. As a member of a wandering circus troupe, you suddenly find yourself lost in an unknown land. You must fight enemies that wander the lands, save your fellow troupe members who are also stuck within this realm, uncover the mysteries of the realm, and make it back to the real world.
During the latest Xbox Asia Developer Session, we got an in-depth look at the Nightmare Circus, and I was immediately in awe of the puppet-string-based combat the game is built upon. Players will be able to use their strings to their advantage and cause enemies to collide in some truly satisfying combat. Lining up shots and sending enemies careening into each other so you can finish them off with the puppet sticks looks set to be really satisfying. The puppet strings will also be used to traverse the nightmare realm with ease.
With the likes of Death’s Door or even Cult Of The Lamb in mind, Nightmare Circus already looks like an experience leaning into that same vibe. Taking those elements of spooky and giving them a cute aesthetic is no simple feat, yet from what we’ve seen so far, this Nightmare Circus is definitely hitting the right spot after only a year of development. The game is set to include 7 themed circus areas full of explorable areas with over 30 enemy types, along with 7 mini-bosses, 6 bosses, and 1 secret boss.
In a lot of ways, the game feels like a storybook come to life, with that focus on these adorable environments portrayed in that darker tone as enemies loom around the player. It’s quite an eerie experience to behold, but the developers at Fairplay Studios have definitely shown just how committed they are to doing something different.
Nightmare Circus is currently planning to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. While we don’t yet have an exact release date, the devs are aiming to release the game in 2026. You can wishlist the game on Steam. This looks like a cute little action-adventure with some incredibly satisfying gameplay to set it apart from other top-down games.
