House-flipping meets cosmic horror in The Lift, a new first-person supernatural handyman simulator from debut studio Fantastic Signals, backed by indie publisher tinyBuild. Set to launch on PC in 2026—with console versions on the way—the game combines renovation gameplay with immersive storytelling, weaving eerie mysteries into a retrofuturistic world inspired by Soviet sci-fi classics and the SCP Foundation. A limited-time public playtest is live now on Steam.
Fantastic Signals may be new, but its team is stacked with talent, with developers who previously worked on Pathologic 2 and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Founder and Game Director Ivan Slovtsov describes the project as a blend of rich worldbuilding and systems-driven gameplay, with players restoring a drifting research institute that has fallen into the interdimensional void.
What to Expect in The Lift
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Renovation, But Stranger – Repair busted furniture, tackle complex engineering challenges, and use gadgets and crafting tools to bring each floor of the Institute back to life.
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A Story Beyond the Walls – Explore the Institute via the Lift, your mobile base of operations. Each biome hides its own secrets, quests, and characters, all tied to the mystery of the catastrophe that left the facility abandoned.
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Hands-On Repairs – Fix everything from vending machines and generators to massive satellite dishes and reactors. Build circuits, manage power flow, and work with torque and mechanics to restore each system.
With its mix of surreal exploration, intricate repair systems, and an ominous storyline, The Lift looks to turn the humble handyman simulator into something much stranger—and much more compelling.
The game is set to officially launch on PC in 2026, but curious players can wishlist it now and try the public playtest on Steam.