Link Steam
indiegame.fan
The Ladder header art

The Ladder

A psychological horror game where each descent down a ladder pulls you deeper into depression, shadowed by collapsing worlds and haunting voices.

Steam Page
Developer
JGG Log Studio
Publisher
JGG Log Studio
Release
Coming Soon
Steam Reviews
No reviews yet

Does this feel indie?

Vote based on whether this game feels indie to you. You can change your vote at any time. Results earn an IGF score after 10 accepted votes.
No votes yet
Vote on More Games
Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Search Google: Who developed The Ladder?Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Search Google: Who published The Ladder?Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Search Google: Is The Ladder self-published or published by JGG Log Studio?Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is The Ladder and JGG Log Studio funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for The Ladder and JGG Log Studio?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Search Google: What is the release status of The Ladder?Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.

Media

5 items

About the Game

The Ladder is a psychological horror game where each descent takes you deeper into an oppressive world shaped by depression. Every level begins with a choice to move forward and ends with a ladder leading further down, forcing you to confront what waits in the darkness below.

The game blends exploration, survival, and symbolic storytelling. Environments twist and collapse around you, shadow figures emerge from the dark, and haunting voices echo doubts and fears. Hazards are unpredictable—floors give way, objects fall, spikes emerge—and each challenge reflects the instability of a mind consumed by trauma.

Progression is structured through chapters, each representing a stage of depression: from subtle emotional shifts, to isolation, to complete disconnection from reality. Between descents, fragments of memory and short cinematic moments give context to the story, drawing you deeper into the experience.

The Ladder is inspired by classic psychological horror, but its focus is on metaphor and meaning. The descent itself is the challenge—keep moving forward, survive the threats around you, and face the weight pressing from within.

Indie Game Fan