The narrative-driven decision-based debut title from indie developer Zeitglas throws players back in time to a 1920’s Sanatorium as an imposter doctor where their morality will be questioned, and every step could be their last.
07. Nov, 2025
Written by Raven Winters, GamingTrend
I was not expecting to be as interested in this one as I am. The theme and style pulled me in, but the gameplay mechanics are what got me to check out the whole trailer.
Seattle, Washington – November 6, 2025 | Zeitglas Games, together with Shoreline Games, proudly announces the global launch of Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator, which will be available from 9am PST (12pm EST / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET) today on PC for Steam, macOS, and Steam Deck for $12.99/ £10.99/ €12,79, including a launch day discount of 25%. Sanatorium invites players to step into the role of an asylum director at the turn of the 20th century, where they must manage staff, treat patients, and navigate ethical dilemmas in a world heavily influenced by phrenology and brutal early psychiatric practices.
Players can make the choice to be gentle or barbaric in their treatment options, but are still limited to the literal cards they are dealt – the archaic, rudimentary options that existed during this experimental era. Driven by a cryptic plea for help from an estranged relative, players will infiltrate the Castle Woods Sanatorium as they attempt to maintain their cover and slowly piece together the shocking truth hidden behind the asylum’s pristine facade.
“It is surreal to finally say that Sanatorium is out now. As a small indie team the development of this game about mental health also taught us a lot about ourselves,” said Sebastian Riedi, co-founder of Zeitglas Games.“Our hope is that players walk away not only entertained, but also thoughtful about the themes and history the game represents. What is normal, and how does the view of what normal represents change over time?”
“Sanatorium is a landmark title for us as a publisher. Zeitglas Games has created something daring, atmospheric, and profoundly memorable,” said Keith Kawamura, CEO of Shoreline Games. “The challenge in this type of game is waking up with the knowledge we have today, putting that aside, and stepping back in time to balance your own decision to progress the narrative. We are incredibly excited to share this experience with players everywhere starting today.” look.
Initially surfacing from a university thesis in 2017, the original concept for Sanatorium started with the setting of a psychiatric hospital and the demand for meaningful, moral decisions as part of the core gameplay. Zeitglas iterated on this initial concept, taking inspiration from medical procedures conducted during the early part of the 20th century, and utilising their research to create a fully immersive experience that delicately blends a dark and bloody history with a compelling narrative.
To read the full story, click the link below:
https://gamingtrend.com/news/sanatorium-a-mental-asylum-simulator-opens-its-doors-today-on-steam
