Touch of Madness

About Touch of Madness

Touch of Madness is a 2D survival horror game by NLT Productions, released on Steam for Windows on 10 August 2026 after a free demo on itch.io. It is played in English, Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese, with full controller support.

The story follows two people. Neo is a man lost in his own mind, trying to survive a nightmare that does not end. Lavina is his loyal friend, who will do anything to try to save him. The game switches between them as it goes, and at points you cross the same places in different realities: a plain office corridor drawn in white lines can return as a red, broken version full of things that want you dead.

The two halves play differently. Neo's is about combat: you aim a revolver at the creatures that come at him, and the screen counts every bullet left in the cylinder. Players mention boss fights and a new weapon later on. Lavina's half is about exploration: reading notes, finding keys for locked doors and hiding from enemies when she has to. Hand-drawn cutscenes tell the story between, and the makers describe it as abstract, with subliminal messages left for the player to interpret.

The frightening part is the look and the mood as much as the creatures: black screens, harsh red lines, pixelated deaths and bodies, and a story about guilt and the weight of choices. Players who finished it say the message about depression is what stayed with them, and some found it more story-driven than the action-heavy demo suggested.

It suits players who like short, minimalist pixel horror with a classic survival horror shape, and a story that means more than it says.

How to play Touch of Madness

1. Play the opening as Neo and learn to aim and fire the revolver at the creatures that come at you.
2. Watch the ammo count under the screen and make every shot count.
3. When the story switches to Lavina, explore the rooms, read what you find and press E to pick up items such as keys.
4. As Lavina, hide from enemies rather than facing them.
5. Follow the hand-drawn cutscenes between chapters, and be ready for boss fights as Neo.

Tips

• Do not waste bullets on creatures you can walk away from; the cylinder holds six.
• Note where locked doors are: a key found later will often open one you passed.
• Players suggest playing it in a single sitting; the story's message comes through best that way.
• Try the free demo on itch.io first if you are unsure about the 1-bit look.

Questions