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About This Game

ENTER IRELAND'S SUBCONSCIOUS LANDSCAPE

Benign Land is a (sur)realistic, first-person, atmospheric walking simulator that invites you on a surreal journey through Ireland’s myths, history, and collective memory. Drift through 17 evocative scenes—spanning centuries from ancient pagan sites to the rise of Christianity, and from the Irish Famine to the haunting echoes of the Troubles.

A SHORT IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

Designed as a 30-45 minute experience, Benign Land offers a dreamlike, slow & meditative exploration where you can:

• Traverse 17 Unique Scenes: Explore landscapes rich in Irish symbolism, from mythological roots to political history (ie. the Maze Prison. aka 'Long Kesh')

• Cross Portals to the Next Chapter: Locate and step through 'thresholds' that transport you forward in a looping, cyclical journey.

• Decode an Abstract Narrative: Immerse yourself in a story told through metaphors, symbolism, and visual poetry.

• Lose Yourself in a Hallucinatory Atmosphere: Feel as if you’re wandering through a dream, a vision, or even an after-death experience.

• Enjoy a Haunting Original Soundtrack: Experience music composed by sound artist John D’Arcy, designed to deepen the atmosphere of the journey.

Blending historical, political, and mythical elements with a cryptic narrative, Benign Land defies conventional gaming norms. It’s an experience for those who seek games as a medium for artistic and emotional expression.

AN ATMOSPHERIC JOURNEY INTO THE SOUL OF A NATION

Inspired by the Tibetan Book of the Dead, Gaspar Noé's Enter the Void, Seamus Heaney's poetry, and the layered prose of Finnegans Wake, Benign Land is an immersive, dreamlike odyssey that unfolds in symbolic, ethereal scenes. Political, spiritual, and poetic, the experience blurs the line between history and hallucination.

NO OBJECTIVES—ONLY VIBES

With no combat or puzzles, Benign Land invites you to absorb its world as an artistic meditation on Ireland's psyche, touching on its spiritual evolution and lingering social scars. Originally crafted as an interactive art installation, it’s an homage to abstract storytelling and visual art, made to evoke rather than explain.

SOUNDTRACK BY JOHN DARCY

Featuring an original soundtrack by Belfast-based sound artist John D'Arcy, the soundscape of Benign Land draws you deeper into this liminal space—with lingering echoes of a sonic past that complement its mist-laden vistas and stark imagery.

ORIGIN STORY

Benign Land was originally commissioned as an immersive art installation for the deconsecrated Carlisle Memorial Church in Belfast, brought to life through support from Household Belfast and the British Council of Northern Ireland. Created by interdisciplinary artist and solo game developer Leandros Ntolas, the project merges art with interactive storytelling to craft a surreal journey into Ireland’s soul.

With a vision to cross-pollinate between the worlds of art and games, Benign Land defies typical gameplay. In this dreamlike experience, scenes blend history, myth, and memory—inviting players to see games not only as entertainment, but also as powerful vehicles for cultural expression.

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

Benign Land contains political, religious, and historical depictions, including scenes, iconography, and symbols related to the Northern Ireland conflict. These themes are presented within a reflective, artistic context but may be triggering to some audiences sensitive to topics of political and social unrest.