Begotten Son

Begotten Son is a short indie side-scrolling retro platformer and fighting game where a knight traverses dark landscapes inspired by the silent cinema era. It was developed by Stefano Cagnani (Steven Games Studio) and initially released on December 5, 2024.

This free experimental project is also based on Antonin Artaud’s theatre of gestures, expressionist films like Begotten by E. Elias Merhige, and works such as Vermis I (“the horror game that never existed”) by PlastiBoo.

Published by Stefano Cagnani himself and made available for Windows, Begotten Son seems to capture that unintentional eerie atmosphere many black-and-white films possess. Combined with its elements and settings, it creates a compelling gothic horror aura.

Videos

Synopsis

Azralath, a forgotten kingdom, perpetually dismayed by wars. Eternal struggles with giant creatures, monsters and greedy rulers have brought the kingdom to its knees. In these desolate lands, a last King is defeated. The wrath of his son will be unleashed and you will have to face a path of vengeance that will lead you to redemption.

Anger begat legend.

Controls

• WASD – Movement
• E – Interact/Attack/Crouch
• Space Bar – Cloak/Climbing

Trivia

• Begotten Son was developed using Unreal Engine, likely in its version 4, judging by the creator’s other works.
• The Film Begotten – The game draws heavily from the disturbing 1989 experimental film Begotten by E. Elias Merhige, which depicts a nightmarish creation myth using stark black-and-white imagery and an absence of dialogue. This film is renowned for its unsettling visuals and has become a cult classic in avant-garde cinema.
• Antonin Artaud’s Theatre of Cruelty – The game’s theatrical influences stem from Antonin Artaud’s revolutionary concept of the Theatre of Cruelty. Artaud envisioned performances as visceral experiences that would confront audiences with raw emotions, aiming to shock through physical gestures, symbolic imagery, and intense atmospheres.
• Vermis I – A mysterious and legendary project by PlastiBoo, Vermis I is known as “the horror game that never existed.” Despite its reputation, it has never been officially released, but its conceptual trailers and teasers have influenced many indie horror developers, including, as also said before, Stefano Cagnani in the creation of Begotten Son.

More info and dark platform games

• Begotten Son @ Itch.io – With more information, media, comments, alternative download link etc.
• Begotten Son @ Gaming Room – Source, with more info and media. In Portuguese.
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