In the landscape of video game development, few projects carry the weight of lived experience quite like Hollow Home, an upcoming narrative RPG from Ukrainian indie studio Twigames. The game draws its inspiration from one of the most devastating chapters of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine—the siege of Mariupol—telling its story not through the eyes of soldiers or military commanders, but through those of a 14-year-old boy named Maksym struggling to survive as his world crumbles around him. This deeply personal approach to depicting the horrors of war represents a significant departure from conventional war games, offering players a civilian perspective that is rarely explored in the medium.
The development team at Twigames has emphasized that their motivation comes from the countless real stories of ordinary people who endured the brutal conditions of a besieged city. The siege of Mariupol, which began in February 2022 and lasted approximately three months, became one of the most harrowing episodes of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The city of nearly half a million people was subjected to relentless bombardment, leaving thousands dead and forcing survivors to shelter in basements without adequate food, water, or medical supplies. The Azovstal steel plant, where Ukrainian defenders made their final stand, became a symbol of resistance that captured global attention.
A Story of Survival and Humanity
Hollow Home begins on what the developers describe as the last normal day of Maksym’s childhood. Players get to experience a peaceful stroll through their neighborhood, witnessing the everyday life that would soon be shattered by the onset of siege. This narrative choice serves as a powerful contrast to the chaos that follows, allowing players to understand exactly what is being lost. The game then transitions into a survival experience where every decision carries weight, and the consequences of choices ripple throughout the story. Players must navigate a transformed urban landscape, deciding whom to trust and whom to help, knowing that resources are finite and that aiding one person often means being unable to help another.
The game mechanics reflect the harsh realities of civilian survival in wartime. Scavenging through buildings, navigating dangerous areas, and managing dwindling resources become essential skills. But beyond the physical challenges, Hollow Home explores the psychological and moral dimensions of survival. As days pass, the city transforms irrevocably—familiar streets empty out, buildings crumble from shelling, and the people Maksym encounters grow increasingly desperate and cold. Some characters may disappear without warning between encounters, sometimes as a direct result of player choices, mirroring the unpredictable tragedy of real wartime experiences.
The Human Cost of Conflict
What distinguishes Hollow Home from other war-themed games is its unwavering focus on the civilian experience. While military conflicts dominate headlines and history books often focus on strategic battles and political decisions, the daily struggles of ordinary people caught in war zones frequently go untold. Historical precedents for such civilian-focused narratives in gaming include titles like This War of Mine, developed by Polish studio 11 bit studios in 2014, which similarly drew inspiration from the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War. That game demonstrated both the commercial viability and emotional power of depicting war from a non-combatant perspective, influencing a generation of developers to explore similar themes.
The siege of Mariupol specifically provides a contemporary and deeply resonant backdrop for Hollow Home’s narrative. During the actual siege, civilians faced unimaginable conditions—trapped without electricity or heating in freezing temperatures, unable to evacuate through humanitarian corridors that repeatedly failed to materialize, and forced to bury the dead in mass graves in courtyards and gardens. Stories emerged of families surviving on rainwater and whatever food they could find, of children separated from parents, and of ordinary people performing extraordinary acts of courage and kindness despite impossible circumstances. These real experiences inform the emotional authenticity that Twigames seeks to capture in their game.
Development Progress and Community Response
Twigames has announced they are targeting a release sometime in 2026, though a precise date has not yet been confirmed. In the meantime, the studio has made a demo available on Steam that offers approximately one hour of gameplay, covering the story from the day the invasion begins. The demo allows potential players to experience the game’s isometric perspective, narrative-driven gameplay, and the emotional weight of its storytelling approach. Early community response has been notable, with many players expressing appreciation for the game’s sensitive handling of difficult subject matter and its commitment to honoring the experiences of real survivors.
The decision by a Ukrainian studio to create a game about their own country’s ongoing war carries both artistic and personal significance. For the developers at Twigames, this is not merely a creative project but a form of witness—a way of ensuring that the world remembers and understands what ordinary Ukrainians have endured. The game’s tagline speaks to its core theme: at its heart, Hollow Home is about perseverance in the face of suffering and the struggle to remain human when circumstances constantly push people to their limits. Through Maksym’s journey and the multiple endings players can achieve, the game poses difficult questions about morality, survival, and what it means to hold onto kindness when everything around you is falling apart.
Expert Opinion: Hollow Home represents an important evolution in how video games can serve as a medium for historical documentation and emotional truth-telling. By centering civilian experiences rather than military action, Twigames joins a growing movement of developers using interactive storytelling to foster empathy and understanding about contemporary conflicts. The game’s release in 2026 will likely resonate strongly with global audiences increasingly aware of the human costs of the Ukraine conflict, potentially establishing new standards for how the gaming industry addresses ongoing humanitarian crises with sensitivity and artistic integrity.