Hey everyone!

It’s been a little while since our last official Steam Hub post, so thank you for your patience and continued interest in Don't! Fret. If you haven't already, be sure to join our Discord for more frequent updates and behind-the-scenes content:
👉 https://discord.gg/vHkv6HQztB

We recently released a detailed devlog video with tons of new info on development progress. You can check it out here:
We’re actively playtesting the first third of Don't! Fret!
All core gameplay mechanics are now complete.
Our main enemy, Tapehead, has undergone a major overhaul — and Fret has received some updates too.
We’ve created a brand-new, redesigned capsule art that better represents the game’s vibe and characters. Can’t wait to share it with you soon!
The current playtime for the first third of the game is averaging 1.5 hours, which means you can expect the full game to be around 4–5 hours long.
We've decided to make all cutscenes in-engine, resulting in a more seamless and immersive experience.

You may have seen this mentioned on other platforms, but for those who haven't: the demo was just a tiny peek at Don't! Fret's atmosphere and tone — the final game is significantly more robust and polished in terms of gameplay.

Our original inspiration was to capture the intense, cat-and-mouse style of Alien: Isolation. And while we're a small team with limited resources, I truly believe we've built something that captures that same kind of tension.

The gameplay now blends elements of Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Alien: Isolation.
The demo’s AI was very basic — “run-at-the-player” style — but that's completely changed. We’re spending a ton of time refining enemy behavior and making every encounter feel fun, tense, and rewarding.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the variety in Don't! Fret.

Yes, the game is set in a school — but trust me when I say, it’s a wild ride of constantly evolving environments and surprising set pieces. We’re working hard to make sure each area feels distinct and keeps you on your toes.

When I say varied, I really mean it.


We’ve made the decision to move our release window to early 2026.

This gives us the time we need to avoid crunch, polish the experience, and make sure Don't! Fret is the best it can possibly be when it reaches you.


Thank you all so much for your continued support. It means the world to our team.

If you haven’t already, come hang out with us on Discord — we’d love to chat and keep you in the loop as we get closer to release!

See you soon,
💀 Scary Kid Studios

We kicked off the year back in March with the announcement trailer for Don't! Fret, which in the first month received over 200K views. The hype was very real, and it was amazing to begin to put Don't! Fret on the map. In case you didn't know, Scary Kid Studios has a YouTube channel where put Devlogs, Trailers and more!

On October 18th, we released the demo for Don't! Fret: The Audition. For those of you who follow our other socials you will know, that this demo actually was intended to be an entire Chapter 1 (when we had it as an episodic format!). After much debate, we decided to turn Don't! Fret into a full length came, and we are aiming for a 4-7 hour game experience!

The demo was received incredibly well, and we currently have 97 reviews with a VERY POSITIVE rating! We also had so many incredible influencers play the demo, including our very own Game Theory!

We have been VERY quiet since the release of the Don't! Fret demo and the reason is a good one... WE ARE VERY HARD AT WORK ON THE FULLY GAME ːsteamhappyː

As game developers, this is our first game and so there are so many things and processes we are learning as we go. It took us over a year just to get the demo into a solid, playable state with art assets, mechanics, sound design etc. Since the demo, we have hired on a new full time developer, and additional help with animations and 3D modeling. The game is turning into a beast we could have never imaged possible (in a good way)!

We have overhauled many of the mechanics that were in the demo. Doors, portals, equipment, enemies and so much more. The demo was only scratching the surface of the story we are diving into in the full game!

In an effort to be transparent, as we always try and do - we don't have an official release date for the game however, we are aiming for Q3 or Q4 of 2025. So far, we have been doing a great job sticking to our schedules and milestone reviews.

As the game grows, and we begin to fully test - I'm sure we can expect some roadblocks, but rest assured - we are planning for them!

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support us along this crazy journey. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year! We're cooking up some amazing things and we can't wait to show you!