Hello Misfits!

We’re thrilled to tell you that the next round of the Closed Beta is finally here and live! Thanks to your enthusiasm, your theories, and your feedback, we’ve been able to refine, tweak, and polish our rubber hose world even more.

New players are welcomed and highly encouraged to join, so check out how to get involved below! If you've already participated, you're automatically included (so you can skip ahead and click the "Rate Up" button on this post..!) Pretty neat, right?

SIGN UP FOR THE CLOSED BETA[store.steampowered.com]

Just like last time, new players are picked at random, and for those who receive an invite, expect new ways to play Into The Unwell, nifty tweaks here and there, and endless opportunities to get well. Invites will start to appear today as an email from Steam, and if you didn’t make it, fear not. Your chance might come. Keep your eyes on this space, Discord, and social media for updates!

Whether you’re returning to continue your adventure or joining for the first time, we can’t wait to see how you experience Into The Unwell. Your feedback helps shape the world, and we’re excited to hear your thoughts. The FAQ is almost the same as last time, but we’re reposting it for your convenience. Here’s what you need to know:

Q: I participated in the first Closed Beta round. Do I need to reapply?

A: No, you’ll be automatically included. Just start the game and enjoy the ride!

Q: How do I know if I got accepted?

A: If the fates smiled upon you, you'll find an email from Steam or a notification in the Steam client.

Q: Can I boost my odds by reaching out?

A: Nope! All invitations are sent out randomly.

Q: Am I allowed to stream the Closed Beta or share content on social media platforms such as Twitch, Youtube, Facebook, X, Bluesky and Instagram?

A: No, players who share content from the Closed Beta will receive an official takedown request from either us or Coffee Stain Publishing. If you’re a Youtuber who would like to stream the game at a later date, please reach out to us!

Q: I’m a journalist / writer. Am I allowed to write articles based on the Closed Beta?

A: The same rules apply here: please don’t share any impressions in articles or on social media. If you're interested in covering the game, reach out to us or Coffee Stain Publishing!

Q: Is the full game in the Closed Beta?

A: No, you’ll explore the first world. Just enough to pull you in… not enough to let you out.

Q: Can I play with friends?

A: Yes. Misery loves company! You’ll be able to invite up to two friends to join you.

Q: How long will the Closed Beta last?

A: We’re live from today through February 4. Then the gates close!

Q: Will my saves carry over into Early Access?

A: Sadly not. Please be aware that there's a risk Closed Beta saves may be wiped due to maintenance on our end. After all, this is a test, and things might get a little wonky.

Q: Can I give feedback?

A: Please do. The Closed Beta will ship with a feedback feature, and if you encounter something strange (stranger than the Unwell), or just want to share your wackiest gameplay ideas, let us know by using it! Your insights are fuel for what’s to come.

Want to discuss Into The Unwell, the Closed Beta, rubber hose animation, and everything in between? Join our Discord[discord.gg]! You can also follow us on Steam and social media for updates[linktr.ee] on Early Access and more!

Until next time

Stay weird, stay wacky.

/ The Horses 🐎

Hey Misfits, hope you’re unwell!

Today we’ll dive into environment design and the quirky details that make Into The Unwell so alive. And there’s no better place to start than the filthy, trash-filled world that greets you on your journey through the Unwell.

Trash and quirky humor define this area. Giant cereal boxes and fake brands lurk around every corner. It’s all a little unhinged in that rubber hose way. But how did it come together?

Where the Trash World began

The journey started with a simple idea: comment on consumerism by creating a world built from discarded trash. Early sketches imagined players climbing through heaps of garbage, but over time, the motivation evolved. Instead of climbing toward the source of trash, the team focused on decorating a world with cans, boxes, fast food, and playful satire, turning garbage itself into the heart of the environment. Felix Waubert De Puiseau, Art Director on Into The Unwell, explains that trash became the “outsiders” of the world; chaotic, imperfect, and exaggerated objects contrasting with a sense of order and familiarity drawn from real-life references like Swedish milk cartons, book designs, and nostalgic 80s-90s items.

Early mockup of the Trash World

From the very beginning, the team leaned into playful distortion and whimsy. Johannes Barte, a concept artist working at the publisher Coffee Stain, contributed early paintovers that transformed piles of garbage into exciting shapes and stylized compositions. Rocks became cans, milk cartons were humorously reimagined as “Veganklök” (Vegan puke), and every prop carried a hint of satire or nostalgia. Huge props and loose, rubber hose lines make the world feel like you’ve been miniaturized inside a kid’s sketchbook. Felix pushed for those slightly crooked lines, intentionally imperfect, to keep everything feeling warm, goofy, and full of charm.

Props with personality

The environment thrives on detail. Interactive elements like sunken cans, wobbling bottles, and movable objects make the world feel alive. Oskar Johansson Möller, Environment Artist, helped fill the world with props and polished materials, ensuring every corner was interactive and visually cohesive. Billboards advertise mock brands like Lizard People and Warzone Bananas, while books and packaging carry absurd humor; How to Tax Evade and Help My Child Is Satan among them. Some props even react dynamically to player choices, blending interactivity with storytelling.

One of many odd books you'll stumble up on the first level

Lighting and composition were just as important as props. The team aimed for a “Truman Show” effect, using spotlights and shadows to frame action and create readable chaos. Colors were chosen to give the Trash World a yellowish, polluted hue that feels unmistakably its own. The world feels lived-in, with trash heaps scattered as if by random chance, but each element was intentionally placed to balance humor, visual excitement, and readability.

Joachim “Balder” Häggström, Technical Artist, built the procedural system that stitches together entire levels from pre-built chunks, and prototyped many of the interactive features that bring the world to life. Johannes whipped up enemy and environment concept art, billboard graphics, and a bunch of the packaging designs, while Oskar dove into the actual world-building: materials, props, all the little bits that make the place feel lived in. And with Felix steering the overall vibe, that tiny goofy idea snowballed into a world that’s funny and somehow surprisingly cohesive.

At its core, the Trash World runs on contrast: giant goofy objects dumped into a decaying environment, wobbly shapes laid over a carefully structured layout, humor sitting right on top of something a bit darker. Every corner’s got a story, every prop’s got attitude: even the simplest can or book. It’s our celebration of messiness and pure unapologetic satire. A world where you can poke around and laugh at all the nonsense.

Previous posts

The islands of Into The Unwell

The bird that sparked Into The Unwell’s visuals

Want to discuss Into The Unwell, the Closed Beta, rubber hose animation, and everything in between? Join our Discord[discord.gg]! You can also follow us on Steam and social media for updates[linktr.ee] on Early Access and more!

Till next time,

Stay weird, stay wacky.

/ The Horses 🐎