Signal Veil: Survival Horror with a Phone That Detects Spirits

An old cell phone will be our only guide in Signal Veil, the new survival horror just announced by Serafini Productions and Chilean studio Time Hunters. The game will come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, though it doesn't have a release date yet.

The announcement came with a first trailer that makes its intentions clear: fixed-camera exploration, psychological horror, and a visual style that draws directly from 90s anime. And as a fan of classic horror, I confess the combination has my heart racing.

A Missing Mother and a School Full of Spirits

In Signal Veil, we take control of Aki Mizuno, a teenager whose mother disappears, leaving behind an old phone that responds to spirits no one else can see. As disappearances spread through Nishikawa High School, Aki will have to reconstruct a past hidden behind false memories and silences.

The phone isn't just a narrative object: it's the central tool for survival. It vibrates, generates static, and distorts the image when supernatural activity is nearby. Its camera reveals hidden objects and spiritual imprints, and the flash can stun entities. To finish off a spirit, you have to follow a sequence: detect it, provoke it, stun it, expose its essence, and purge it permanently.

Each entity behaves differently, so observing and positioning yourself well will be just as important as pulling the trigger. Time Hunters cites Resident Evil and Silent Hill as direct influences on the survival horror, and on the anime side they mention Another and Jujutsu Kaisen. That mix of references shows in the tone: school hallways, fixed angles, and an atmosphere that promises to make our hair stand on end.

Aki's Mind Also Works Against Her

Ammo, medicine, and weapons—mystical or improvised—are scarce. Careless encounters come at a high cost, and the fixed camera limits what we see, just like in the classics of the genre. But what catches my attention the most is Aki's mental deterioration system: as her condition worsens, the environments change, enemies become less predictable, and her fighting style becomes more desperate.

Screenshot from Signal Veil, the new survival horror by Time Hunters.monstervine.com

That adds an extra layer to exploration and combat. Not everything is solved with gunfire, and with supplies so limited, every decision carries weight. I love that the horror doesn't come only from what lurks in the hallways, but also from what's happening inside the protagonist.

Signal Veil can already be added to your wishlist on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and the Epic Games Store. The news doesn't mention a physical version or an approximate release window, so patience is required. That said, as soon as it drops, I want to play it with the lights off and my phone on do not disturb.