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Hatching Gets a Free Virtual Pet Game Thanks to Developer Airdorf

Hatching, the Finnish creature feature/body horror film from director Hannah Bergholm now has its own tie-in game thanks to Faith developer Airdorf. Created in collaboration with IFC Midnight (distributors of The Babadook, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, and The Relic), the simple browser-based game is inspired by retro virtual pets like the Tamagotchi to coincide with the VOD release of the film.

Hatching follows Tinja, a young gymnast who struggles as her mother attempts to showcase the “perfect family” through her online blog. One day, the girl discovers a mysterious egg and brings it home to hatch it. What hatches soon turns their lives into a waking nightmare that will push the family to their limits.

The impressive creature effects on the film feature an animatronic puppet, created by lead designer Gustav Hoegen and his team who previously worked on Star Wars, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and 2010’s Clash of the Titans. As the monster evolves it is played by different performers, including Tinja’s actress Siiri Solalinna. The special effects make-up was designed by Academy Award-nominated effects artist Conor O’Sullivan, known for his work on Game of Thrones, X-Men: First Class, Saving Private Ryan, and Aliens.

an 8-bit egg in front of a paisley wallpaper

Airdorf has created several tie-in games for films in his iconic retro style, including another creature feature, Attack of the Murder Hornets (directed by Michael Paul Stephenson, airing exclusively on Discovery+), the supernatural film The Wind (directed by Emma Tammi), and the horror-comedy Extra Ordinary (directed by Mike Ahern & Enda Loughman and starring Maeve Higgins, Barry Ward, and Will Forte). All are available on Airdorf’s Itch.io page.

For more thoughts on the film, you can read our own JP Nunez’s review of Hatching from last month!

The Hatching game is available for free via Web (Itch.io) and to download from the App Store. The film is now available on VOD.

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Written by Lor Gislason

Lor is a body horror enthusiast from Vancouver Island, Canada who can be found chilling with their two cats and playing farming simulators. Find them on Twitter: @lorelli_

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