Kodansha releases demo for immersive art game Catharsis: The Last Atelier

Kodansha has released a demo for ‘Catharsis: The Last Atelier’, an immersive art adventure game, on Steam. The title is scheduled for a full release in 2026 via the Kodansha Game Creators Lab.

Described as a walking simulator, the game allows players to travel through ten different worlds inspired by famous paintings by artists such as Van Gogh, Klimt, and Monet. The gameplay focuses on experiencing the inside of a painting rather than viewing it from the outside, collecting ‘memories’ left behind by the subjects within the art.

The demo includes approximately 30 minutes of gameplay across two stages: one inspired by Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ and ‘Café Terrace at Night’, and another based on Millais’ ‘Ophelia’. The experience features varying perspectives and mechanics, such as 3D exploration, side-scrolling, and boat navigation. Players are accompanied by a wolf and an owl to assist in navigating the environments. The game will also be featured in the upcoming Steam Next Fest.