On September 7th, LEMPO will arrive — a psychological horror video game for PC and PlayStation. The publisher is PID Games and the developer is One Trick Entertainment. Lempo promises players a terrifying experience inspired by Finnish mythology, centered on exploration and the uncovering of mysteries.
The player must take on the role of Paul, a man who becomes lost in a dark and mysterious forest after leaving work. This forest, known as Metsänpeitto, is connected to a supernatural plane of existence filled with enigmatic forces and threats. Players must make their way through it and find a way out before it swallows them whole.
Combat is not a necessary element for surviving in Metsänpeitto; instead, players will face a variety of puzzles and intricate mysteries. To solve them, they will have access to certain tools — for lighting the way, investigating the environment, and finding key objects. It is also possible to encounter "souls" that hold important clues. The nightmare experience is heightened by its chilling visuals and atmospheric sound design.
An illustration by Tero Porthan
Lempo, the name of the game, refers to a figure from Finnish mythology described as a troll or a demon. However, some researchers believe he was an ancient Finnish god of love who was demonized through Christianization. His original name would have been Lemmo, though it is possible that his negative connotation predates Christianity, as he would not have been connected to the romantic love we know today, but rather to a more primal drive — such as desire or lust. According to some sources, when a woman committed adultery, her lover became Lemmo and was banished from the village. According to certain folk rhymes, Lempo has wings and is capable of flight.
If you want to learn more about Finnish mythology and paganism, you should keep reading here: