Something is waiting in the fog, and Troy has a train schedule to keep.
11 bit studios has announced Trainwatch, a time-management mystery adventure from solo developer Remigiusz “Rem” Michalski and his studio Harvester Games. Known for narrative-driven horror experiences including The Cat Lady and Lorelai, Michalski is bringing his latest unsettling story to Steam in 2027.
Trainwatch follows Troy, a man attempting to step away from his troubled everyday life by taking a job in near-total isolation. For one month, his responsibilities seem straightforward: operate the railway crossing, stay sober, and call his wife Agatha every night.
Working as a Gatekeeper means checking the timetable, closing the crossing gates when trains approach, watching them pass, and opening the gates again. The routine is intentionally repetitive, but the isolation doesn’t last. Strange calls, unusual neighbors, unexpected errands, and mysterious paths leading into the surrounding fog begin turning Troy’s quiet job into something much more complicated.
Beyond the railway crossing lies a world filled with locked locations, strange encounters, forgotten paths, and secrets that seem increasingly difficult for Troy to ignore. The farther he ventures from the safety of the tower, the more the fog appears to draw him into whatever is waiting beyond the tracks.
Troy’s own condition is another challenge. Players will need to keep him fed, rested, clean, and sober while managing the demands of his new job. Hunger, exhaustion, fear, and neglect can take their toll, while missed calls with Agatha make it increasingly difficult for Troy to keep the promises he made when he arrived.
Time is at the heart of Trainwatch. Trains won’t wait, Agatha will expect her nightly call, strangers will ask for help, and the fog will continue presenting new reasons to leave the crossing. Players won’t be able to pursue every mystery, keep every promise, or make every day go perfectly. Instead, they’ll have to decide what matters most and accept that some things will inevitably be left behind.
That focus on difficult choices sits alongside the game’s mystery, with Troy’s attempt to repair his life gradually becoming entangled with the strange world surrounding the railway crossing. Something is waiting in the fog, and discovering what it is could force Troy to confront more than he expected.
Trainwatch is 11 bit studios’ smallest publishing signing to date in terms of team size, with the entire project being developed by Michalski. The developer’s previous work, including The Cat Lady and Lorelai, has earned a following among indie horror fans for combining unsettling atmosphere with mature, character-focused storytelling.
Trainwatch is scheduled to arrive on PC via Steam in 2027.