ONE TO WATCH: Ancestral Harvest

Heal the world with rhythm in this haunting, harmony-driven adventure

Release Date: TBA
Developer: 1011
Publisher: TBA
Played on: PC

I recently had the chance to spend time with the early demo of Ancestral Harvest, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. Developed by 1011this upcoming PC action-adventure defies genre expectations. It’s not about slashing enemies or gunning your way through waves of foes—instead, it hands you a mystical drum and asks you to heal a broken world, one beat at a time.

You play as a wounded shaman-child, wandering a haunting dystopian landscape where nature has all but lost its battle against invasive machinery. There’s no traditional combat here. Instead, your drum becomes your lifeline—a conduit to cleanse corrupted spirits, revive flora, and gradually restore balance to the land. I went in expecting a rhythm-based combat mechanic, but was surprised at how much depth and tactility there was in piecing together the right beats for each situation.

The demo I played includes a section from level two, and right away I was struck by the sound design. Each drum hit reverberates through the world in a meaningful way. The atmosphere is rich, with layered audio that evolves as you progress and restore elements of the environment. The soundtrack isn’t just background noise—it’s the emotional heartbeat of the game. It gave the world weight, mystery, and at times, a strange sense of comfort.

The puzzles caught my attention early on. I appreciated the feeling of working things out without being overly guided. Sure, there were moments where a little more direction would have helped to nudge me in the right direction, but solving it on my own was satisfying once I got there and I appreciated the puzzles didn’t give too much away.

Combat is all about rhythm. Initially, I assumed each drum hit corresponded to a fixed response, but quickly realised there was more nuance. It’s less about memorising combos and more about feeling the timing and purpose behind each beat. During the boss encounter, I definitely had a moment of frustration. There was a pull mechanic that felt inescapable at first, and I was starting to think I’d hit a wall. But after several attempts, something clicked. I began to anticipate the pattern and managed to avoid the pull altogether in later runs.

Visually, Ancestral Harvest is stunning in a haunting, decayed sort of way. The fusion of natural decay and looming industrial ruins tells a story all on its own. As I restored plants and collected pollen to unlock new shamanic abilities, I felt a real sense of progress—not just mechanically, but emotionally. The world felt like it was breathing again, little by little.

What struck me most was the uncertainty of it all. The game doesn’t spoon-feed lore or offer clear explanations at every turn. You’re left to piece together humanity’s fall from grace through the environment and the strange, spiritual remnants scattered throughout. That ambiguity made it feel more immersive, and more personal.

Overall, I was genuinely impressed. There’s a lot of promise here, and I’m keen to see how it develops. With some refinement—especially in puzzle signposting and control feedback—Ancestral Harvest could become something truly special. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on it and doing what I can to spread the word.

It’s rare to find a game that swaps violence for healing and still manages to feel powerful. If you’re ready to play something that listens as much as it speaks, Ancestral Harvest might be worth the journey.