One building. Three dead bodies. A deputy trapped in a crumbling society, trying to keep the peace as the world teeters on the edge of war. Welcome to Glasshouse, an upcoming CRPG that takes place entirely inside a lockdown-era apartment complex, where survival isn’t just about food and weapons—it’s about ideology, manipulation, and the slow unraveling of trust among neighbors.
A twisted mix of feudal politics and broken-down apartment drama
Glasshouse doesn’t waste time with dragons or distant kingdoms. Instead, it drops players into Dormitory 73B—a worn-down concrete hive of locked doors and whispered secrets. The game calls its world “Feudalpunk,” a strange but fitting mash-up of old-school hierarchies jammed into a post-capitalist world teetering on collapse.
Players control Wealdmaer, deputy head of the condo association. Not exactly a glamorous job title, but in this block under lockdown during wartime, it’s a role with surprising power—and danger. A triple murder has rocked the building. Residents are scared, angry, and increasingly political. Wealdmaer has to figure out what happened while also keeping people alive and somehow holding together what’s left of order.
The whole game stays within this one building. No sprawling maps or fast travel here—just hallways that feel more like veins feeding a rotting heart. That tight focus pulls every decision into sharp relief. There’s no escape from the consequences when all exits are sealed and everyone’s watching.
When words can be sharper than knives
This is not just another detective story in disguise. In Glasshouse, dialogue matters as much as any weapon—or maybe even more. Every resident has their own political beliefs, and those beliefs shape how they talk, fight, and survive. Players don’t just choose between good or bad—they build their own political compass through conversations and tough decisions.
It’s not about picking left or right on some basic slider either. The game throws complex ideological skill checks at players—moments where language skills can make or break a situation. Talk someone down from violence? Convince them to reveal key info? Or accidentally push them further into paranoia? It all depends on how well Wealdmaer understands them—and himself.
This idea of political combat adds an extra layer to every chat over coffee or standoff in the stairwell. Arguments hit harder when they can change alliances… or get someone killed.
A whodunit tangled in ideology and emotion
The triple murder is the spark that lights Glasshouse’s fire—but it’s everything around it that keeps it burning. As Wealdmaer investigates who killed three residents (and why), players dig through overlapping lies, motives, and memories shared by neighbors trying to survive in close quarters.
Like Disco Elysium before it, Glasshouse leans heavy on branching dialogue trees with smart writing that goes places most games avoid—questions about loyalty, truth, class resentment, and what happens when systems fail completely. The ending isn’t set in stone; it shifts based on choices made throughout conversations and investigations.
The writing doesn’t pull punches either—it’s dense with emotion but never preachy. Every character feels like they’ve lived inside these walls for years… because they have.
DIY weapons meet turn-based tension
Sometimes words won’t cut it—so Glasshouse gives players another tool: junkyard ingenuity. Combat plays out in turn-based style using “do-it-yourself” weapons crafted from whatever scraps can be found around Dormitory 73B.
No laser rifles or enchanted swords here; think more along the lines of pipe-wrapped batons or reinforced kitchen tools turned lethal out of necessity. Players use the Workbench system to craft survival gear that might save their life—or help bluff their way through a dangerous confrontation.
That said, fighting isn’t always required. For those who prefer brains over brawn, there are non-violent options too: sharpened oratorical skills can be used to end fights before they begin by making enemies surrender through persuasion alone.
This duality—talk or fight—isn’t just flavor text; it’s built deep into how players progress through conflict-heavy moments without breaking character alignment or tone.
A theater of tragedy told by an unseen Director
Glasshouse doesn’t look like most CRPGs either—and that’s on purpose. The entire story unfolds like a stage play narrated by an invisible figure known only as “The Director.” This theatrical narrator treats everything as if it’s part of some grand performance—less gritty realism and more doomed Greek tragedy drenched in sarcasm and dread.
The presentation leans hard into this style: dramatic lighting cues shift between scenes like stage spotlights; sound design echoes like footsteps across an empty auditorium; lines are delivered with flair usually reserved for Shakespearean monologues gone rogue.
This bold choice helps sell the idea that everything happening is both real and unreal—that Wealdmaer may be acting out his fate rather than shaping it himself…or maybe both at once.
The minds behind Dormitory 73B
FLAT28—the studio developing Glasshouse—isn’t your usual game dev crew powered by spreadsheets and caffeine-fueled code marathons. Instead, it’s an international mix of artists from film sets and CGI backgrounds who decided to tear apart what makes reality tick…and then rebuild it inside one apartment block filled with fear and politics.
Their goal? To create something immersive enough to feel real but strange enough to unsettle—a story that creeps up behind you rather than screaming for attention from across the room.
When does Glasshouse come out?
Right now there’s no official release date locked down for Glasshouse—it sits patiently under “Coming Soon” on Steam without spilling any specifics just yet. But curious players don’t have to wait in total darkness: FLAT28 released a concept demo over on itch.io for early testing feedback.
A pre-alpha playtest also ran on Steam from November 22nd to December 7th (exact year unclear), giving testers a peek behind Dormitory 73B’s locked doors before anyone else could knock twice. The game made waves at the Dames 4 Games Spring Showcase 2025 too—with its haunting trailer turning heads like flickering hallway lights during a blackout party gone wrong.
A fresh take for fans of narrative-heavy RPGs
If games like Disco Elysium left players hungry for more character-driven drama mixed with clever mechanics and messy human choices—then Glasshouse might just scratch that itch (and leave a mark). Its confined setting trades big open maps for intimate tension between walls painted with paranoia.
The political branching paths invite replay after replay—not just because endings vary wildly but because every line spoken might land differently depending on who says it…or who hears it wrong.
This isn’t your average apocalypse—it’s slower-burning but sharper-edged—and watching Wealdmaer try to hold his neighbors together while his own beliefs unravel might be one of CRPG gaming’s most quietly powerful experiences this year… if not ever released next year instead.
If survival means understanding your enemies better than they know themselves—can anyone really walk away clean?
F.A.Q.
What type of game is Glasshouse?
Glasshouse is an isometric turn-based CRPG set in a “post-capitalist Feudalpunk world.” It combines narrative-driven roleplaying, complex dialogue trees, and turn-based combat, focusing on ideological and political dynamics within a lockdown-era apartment complex. More about Glasshouse.
When does Glasshouse come out?
As of now, there is no official release date for Glasshouse. It is listed as “Coming Soon” on Steam. However, a concept demo is available on itch.io for early testing.
Does Glasshouse have crafting?
Yes, Glasshouse features a crafting system where players use the Workbench to create DIY weapons and survival gear from materials found around the apartment block. This is part of the game’s survival strategy, alongside its narrative and political elements.
What platforms will Glasshouse be available on?
Currently, Glasshouse is listed on Steam, indicating it will be available for PC upon release. There is no information yet about availability on other platforms.
Is Glasshouse worth it for fans of narrative-heavy RPGs?
Fans of narrative-heavy RPGs like Disco Elysium might find Glasshouse appealing due to its intense, choice-driven story, complex character interactions, and ideological depth. Its unique setting and mechanics offer a fresh take on the genre.
How does dialogue influence gameplay in Glasshouse?
In Glasshouse, dialogue plays a crucial role. Players navigate complex political and ideological conversations that affect character relationships and the story’s outcome. The game features ideological skill checks and allows players to build their own political compass through interactions.
