NEOWIZ Signs Publishing Deal for 'Kill the Shadow,' A Detective Adventure Game from Shadowlight
South Korean game publisher and developer NEOWIZ, known for the critically acclaimed Lies of P, has announced a new global publishing partnership with Shadowlight, a promising indie studio based in Shanghai. The collaboration centers around Kill the Shadow, a time-rewinding detective adventure game that fuses narrative depth with a distinctive visual style.
Kill the Shadow stands out as Shadowlight’s debut title and showcases a blend of high-definition 3D environments paired with 2D pixel character art—a visual direction that has already garnered attention and praise during Steam Next Fest last year, where a public demo of the game received “Very Positive” user feedback on Steam.
The game's protagonist possesses the power to rewind time, giving players an innovative approach to solving cases in an alternate, post-war divided city. Each investigation demands logical reasoning, piecing together clues, and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics—all while unearthing secrets hidden in the city’s history and its fractured society.
A New Era for Indie Storytelling: NEOWIZ x Shadowlight
Shadowlight, founded by five close-knit graduates with a shared background in university-level game development competitions in China, first gained industry recognition when HYPERGRYPH (developer of Arknights) invested in the studio in 2023. Shadowlight became part of the COREBLAZER incubator program, nurturing the team’s creative vision and technical foundation.
NEOWIZ Co-CEO Kim Seung-chul shared his excitement about the partnership:
“What initially drew us to Shadowlight was a collaborative development philosophy to deliver premium narrative games for PC and console audiences. We look forward to working closely with the team to release Kill the Shadow globally, and we hope audiences find the same charm we experienced as we reveal more about the title.”
Shadowlight CEO Black also spoke positively of the deal:
“NEOWIZ is a reliable global publisher, and we were grateful to find a partner who shares our philosophy on game development. As we see the games industry evolve to be inclusive of other cultures, it’s important to have a publisher that is open to collaborating and emphasizing the significance of your content.”
NEOWIZ’s Expanding Publishing Portfolio
NEOWIZ has increasingly stepped into the global publishing spotlight, recently signing deals with Wolfeye Studios, Zakazane, and Lizard Smoothie, strengthening its presence in the Western indie market and showcasing its dedication to culturally diverse, high-quality storytelling experiences.
Kill the Shadow further represents NEOWIZ’s ambitions to support unique narrative-driven games and push beyond conventional design paradigms. With its imaginative premise, cross-cultural development background, and striking aesthetic, the game is poised to make a mark in the indie detective adventure genre.
Stay tuned for more updates on Kill the Shadow as NEOWIZ and Shadowlight reveal more ahead of its full release.
Are you excited about time-rewinding mechanics in detective games? Let us know your thoughts on Kill the Shadow and its unique approach in the comments below.
