Hyperarousal: A Video Game Exploring Ancient Val Camonica Civilizations

Milan-based studio Aion Interactive is developing Hyperarousal, a psychological survival horror video game inspired by Lovecraftian cosmic horror and the history of Val Camonica, Italy, home to the pre-Roman Camuni civilization. The game will scan a ten-square-kilometer area of Val Camonica to reconstruct it faithfully. It alternates semi-open exploration with dream sequences set in past eras, including a Roman-era reconstruction of the Sanctuary of Minerva in Breno (Brescia) and a Camunian settlement based on research by the Centro Camuno di Studi Preistorici. The Hyperarousal System, developed with psychologists, adapts gameplay to the player's psychological profile, creating unique experiences per playthrough. The narrative explores intergenerational trauma through historical conflicts like the shift from pre-Roman religions to Christianity and World War II. Hyperarousal is slated for release in 2027 on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Co-founders David Capuano (art director) and Luca Poma (from Val Camonica) come from visual arts backgrounds; Capuano calls video games the most complete art form.