ONTOS: SOMA Developer Frictional Games Unveils Sci-Fi Horror Successor

Frictional Games, the developer behind horror classics like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and SOMA, officially revealed their next game, ONTOS, at The Game Awards 2025. The trailer confirms the game is a philosophical sci-fi mystery thriller and a "spiritual successor" to their highly-regarded 2015 title, SOMA.

Game Details and Premise

The game is set to be Frictional's most ambitious title yet, pushing their design, scope, and philosophical themes further than ever before.

• Protagonist & Setting: Players take on the role of Aditi Amani, an engineer on a quest to find her estranged father. Her search leads her to a repurposed hotel complex on the Moon called Samsara, a "shadow of its former glory" that is filled with dark secrets.
• Voice Acting: The cast features veteran actor Stellan Skarsgård (known for Andor and Chernobyl).
• Gameplay: ONTOS features a tactile, systems-driven gameplay experience. Players must use ingenuity, research, and hands-on interaction with machinery to navigate the environment. The core gameplay revolves around exploring and solving "complex Experiments" that challenge the player's morality. The game will focus on psychological tension and consequences rather than traditional horror.
• Philosophical Themes: The narrative explores existential questions, challenging players to "question the nature of the soul, suffering, and the very fabric of reality itself". The trailer's voiceover encourages the player to "step beyond the walls around you" and "push the very limits until your reality itself breaks".
• Release: ONTOS is scheduled for release in **2026** for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.