Jiaohun Is A New Chinese First-Person Psychological Horror Experience Set In 1999

Publisher IOI Gamer and Shanghai-based studio 12AM BLACKOUT are teaming up to bring you back to a spooky time in 1999.

The developer’s new title is called JIAOHUN, and is a cinematic narrative first-person psychological horror game involving Chinese folk rituals that recall the souls of the dead.

The story takes place in a small Chinese town on the eve of the new millennium in 1999 — Xiannü Town, Baishui County. The player takes on the role of a returnee who has lost their soul, gradually uncovering the mystery of the town’s end while searching for their soul. Four interwoven stories unfold around the theme of “obsession”: when the era casts aside both people and their desires, obsession turns into an inner demon that devours the town’s residents.

“An obscure dot on the map, Fairy Town in Baishoi County clung to survival between changing tides. As the new century approached, the town tried to adapt—but every desperate push forward failed.

Calendars in every home are stuck on the eve of Y2K, with banners proclaiming “Welcome the New Century” still left hanging. You have returned here, to witness its inevitable end.”

The game focuses on a narrative-driven experience, deeply researching the social landscape, folk rituals, and era memories of China around the turn of the millennium, and is dedicated to exploring the cultural context and aesthetic style unique to Chinese horror, emphasizing atmosphere building, cultural metaphor, and psychological pressure.

“Rooted in atmospheric narrative and exploration, the game weaves puzzle elements seamlessly into a walking-simulator experience. Weathered residential flats, creaking wooden doors, and the faint rustle of rain in back alleys let terror quietly unravel within everyday life. Brick homes, crowded tenement blocks, neighborhood theaters, and corner stores, topped with “Welcome the New Century” banners, together capture the authentic atmosphere of a town frozen on the eve of new millennium.

The development team is dedicated to sourcing horror from authentic local culture and nostalgic period memories. Centered around the core theme of “obsession,” JIAOHUN explores the deep anxiety, confusion, and struggle people experienced amid the massive societal shifts at the turn of the century. When unfulfilled desires push individuals to extremes, obsession breeds inner demons, ultimately consuming the people of the town.”