Bloomtown: A Different Story finally got its release date trailer during GAMESCON 2024. Developed by Lazy Bear Games and Different Sense Games, Bloomtown: A Different Story invites players to a seemingly serene 1960s American suburb that hides a sinister and demonic secret. Releasing soon, all the information you need about Bloomtown can be found here.

The release date announcement trailer for Bloomtown: A Different Story, shown at the Future Games Show during Gamescom on August 21, 2024, is both captivating and unsettling. Featuring a voiceover of the children’s grandfather catching up with their mother, the trailer contrasts the seemingly serene town of Bloomtown with its hidden, sinister depths. Set to the eerie tune of a child’s music box, the footage reveals a disquieting contrast between cozy, nostalgic settings and nightmarish imagery, such as a bridge spanning ominous, grey faces and a man being dragged into a car by shadowy, multi-armed figures.

In some ways, it’s reminiscent of REANIMAL, which was announced at Gamescom on August 20th and is inherently anti-cozy. Bloomtown, however, walks a different line: it’s both cozy and unsettlingly disturbing. I’d describe it as a “dark cozy” game, which better captures that unique blend of warmth and horror. While the pixel art may echo the style of Stardew Valley, don’t be fooled; this game offers a much darker twist. Instead of a peaceful escape from a farmhouse, Bloomtown reveals a nightmare seen through a window; a charming town that’s far more sinister than it seems.

In Bloomtown: A Different Story, you step into the shoes of Emily and her younger brother Chester as they spend their summer vacation in Bloomtown—a town that may seem cozy, but is full of hidden horrors. As you uncover the town’s darkest secrets, you’ll confront uncanny forces that threaten its very existence.