Occlude Warps Solitaire Into a Sinister, Occult Puzzle Game
What if Solitaire was a ritual — one cloaked in cosmic horror, watched over by unknowable entities, and hiding rules that shift beneath your fingertips?
That’s the eerie proposition behind Occlude, a new indie card game that channels the rule-bending brilliance of Balatro and the psychological unease of Inscryption.
Developed by Tributary Games, Occlude launched on July 10 on Steam, and it’s already raising eyebrows for its mysterious, unsettling take on a classic card game.
A Ritual Disguised as Solitaire
While Balatro played with poker mechanics in a fun, non-gambling way, Occlude takes things several shades darker. The game presents itself as a variant of Solitaire — familiar at first glance — but everything from its rules to its story is buried under layers of secrets.
“You thought you knew the rules. You don’t,” the game’s ominous teaser declares. Players are invited to correct past regrets, alter events that should or shouldn’t have happened — all through the seemingly innocent act of laying down cards.
Each playthrough is one of seven “rituals,” with hidden rulesets and increasingly twisted mechanics. You're not alone at the table either — seven entities observe your every move. As the developers put it:
“Worrying doesn’t do anything… I shouldn’t have mentioned them at all.”
What Lies Beneath the Surface?
According to Samuel Partridge, studio lead at Tributary Games, Occlude is all about obscurity by design:
“The story and the mechanics are both a mystery at first — uncovering them is part of the puzzle. We can’t say too much without showing our hand.”
Each ritual functions as a logic puzzle cloaked in arcane symbolism. You’ll need to experiment — and perhaps fail a few times — to understand how the game actually works. Fans of Inscryption’s meta-narratives and gradual rule discovery will feel right at home.
Platform Details
Occlude is available now on Steam, with support for mouse and keyboard, controllers, and full Steam Deck compatibility — though the studio recommends playing with a mouse for the best experience.
Looking for More Mind-Bending Games?
If Occlude piqued your interest, check out our list of the best puzzle games of 2025, or discover the top gaming mice to maximize your precision.
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