Screenshots
Watch trailer on Steam ↗The Grotto Diary
狗猫鼠工作室 · Published by Pilot Games
Last updated 27 Sept 2026
"The Grotto Diary " is a first-person Chinese-style horror game set against a native Chinese backdrop. The story is partially inspired by the works of Lu Xun. You will assume the role of the young girl Hua Xiaoxi lost between dreams and reality, in a story that may still hold hope.. Coming 2026.
Adventure, Indie, RPG · More free games
Embark on the journey of Hua Xiaoxi, a young Chinese girl navigating the eerie corridors of her subconscious in this first-person indie RPG. Developed by 狗猫鼠工作室, The Grotto Diary blends adventure with horror, drawing inspiration from Lu Xun's works and set to release in 2026.
About this game
"The Grotto Diary"is a first-person, Chinese-style horror game with a native setting, independently developed by a solo creator.The game is story-driven, incorporating gameplay elements such as stealth, chase sequences, and puzzles.
The story takes place around the turn of the millennium, in the southern city of N.
Hua Xiaoxi, a girl from Long Village, keeps vigil alone by her grandfather's sickbed. Still of school age, the weight of life already bears down on her young shoulders. Days of nightmares have left her physically and mentally exhausted, the horrifying visions and strange whispers lingering even after she wakes. She gradually realizes that the eerie fragments of her dreams are inextricably entangled with and mirror the hardships of her waking reality—trapped even in consciousness. This fear is consuming her, bit by bit... until nothing remains. But will there still be hope? Save them... save the children...
Narrative Features
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons is coincidental.
The story draws partial inspiration from multiple works by Lu Xun. This narrative seeks to extend his tradition of keen social observation and reinterpret its themes within a contemporary setting.
Dream and reality mirror each other throughout the story, creating a tale that is surreal, yet sharp with satire and truth. Perhaps... you might even catch a glimpse of your own reflection within it.
Character Design
On this journey, you will encounter individuals who act as mirrors of reality. They may help you, influence you, or even harm you.
In some of these characters—or even your adversaries—you may glimpse traces of Lu Xun's literary legacy.
Scene Features
The environments meticulously recreate the textures of different eras, immersing you in a site that transcends time.
If you are familiar with Lu Xun’s works, you may recognize traces of his literary spirit in the mottled walls and dim lamplight.
The scenes are imbued with a unique Chinese-style horror atmosphere—no excessive gore, yet an ever-present, lingering sense of unease.
Gameplay
The game is primarily presented in a first-person perspective, blending narrative sequences, stealth, chase scenes, and puzzle-solving as its core mechanics.
The choices you make may influence the game's difficulty, yet this design serves a singular purpose: to deepen your immersion and fully convey the narrative's tension.
Multiple Endings
The game features multiple endings, some of which require you to complete hidden challenges. Regardless of the path you take or the ending you reach, each journey will lead you to a deeper understanding of the story.
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- OS: Windows
- Processor: TBD
- Memory: TBD GB RAM
- Graphics: TBD
- Storage: 10 GB available space
- Additional Notes:
Recommended
- OS: Windows
- Processor: TBD
- Memory: TBD GB RAM
- Graphics: TBD
- Storage: 10 GB available space
- Additional Notes:
Supported Languages
*languages with full audio support
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
The Grotto Diary Demo: New Version & Major Update
1｜What has been updated in the Demo?1) Player movement & controlsRunning speed increased by about 20%Improved the overall feel and pacing of running and crouching2) AI logic improvementsFixed the issue of hiding in a cabinet right in front of the servant (you can no longer do this)The servant’s chasing behavior is now more reasonable and no longer easy to exploit3) Stronger horror & tensionImproved the servant model and death animationIncreased the pressure during chase sequencesAdded more voice performance and spatial audio effects for the servant4) Flow & level design adjustmentsRemoved part of the study room section to make pacing tighterExtended the chase sequence and improved level progression5) Many bug fixes & gameplay improvementsMore than 20 issues were fixed or improved, including but not limited to:Text/typo errorsSome clipping issuesUnable to stand up after crouchingAdded hints for the “fish” puzzleVarious other minor issues2｜Why are updates coming slowly?Since the Demo launched on May 4th, I’ve been working on fixes and polishing almost every day. However, The Grotto Diary is being developed entirely by myself, and I have to handle everything alone:Collecting feedback → reproducing bugs → finding causes → fixing → repeated testing → packaging → uploading → submitting for review → releasing updates.Each step takes time, and I’m also limited by personal energy and ability. So updates may not be very fast, but I’ll do my best to ensure each patch solves key issues, and to avoid situations where “fixing one thing breaks another.”Thank you for your understanding and patience.3｜Why were the most requested fixes (“hiding in front of the enemy” and movement speed) updated last?The main reason is that The Grotto Diary is designed as a small-scale “sandbox-style” map experience, where atmosphere and pacing are the core. If movement speed becomes too fast, it can easily break the horror rhythm and tension, and it may also cause chase sequences, triggers, and level...Read full article on Community Announcements (狗猫鼠工作室)Patch NotesOfficial
The Grotto Diary Demo Patch Notes 2026/5/6
Hello everyone, this is Weiran.Thank you all for playing the The Grotto Diary Demo over the past two days, and for your feedback and support! I’ve received many messages, comments, and suggestions from the community, and I truly appreciate it.This is my first complete game as a solo developer, so there are still many things I didn’t consider thoroughly.The Demo is inevitably still rough in some areas, such as movement pacing and various bugs. I’m truly sorry and feel very guilty that some of these issues have affected your experience.Due to limited manpower, fixes and updates may take some time. Please give me a little more time—I will keep working hard to improve the game and address the issues you’ve reported one by one.Patch NotesMovement speed increased by +10%Running is now available earlier: you can start running right after entering the first doorImproved crouch/stand detection logic: switched to full detection to reduce the chance of getting stuckOptimized environment art assets to improve overall FPS and stabilityOnce again, thank you for your support and patience. Please continue sending me any bugs, stuck points, or suggestions you encounter.The Grotto Diary will keep receiving updates, and I’ll do my best to make it better and better.— Weiran / DogCatMouse StudioRead full article on Community Announcements (狗猫鼠工作室)Patch NotesOfficial
The Grotto Diary Demo Patch Notes 20260505_2
Patch Notes (Bug Fixes / Improvements)Adjusted and improved the display style of the resolution settingsFixed two subtitle sync/misalignment issuesFixed the fish rotation bugAdded spatial audio for one line of dialogue from the servant “Q” (audio positioning improvement)Fixed an issue where crouching near the starting table behaved incorrectlyFixed a delay where the eyeball disappeared too late after being taken by the ratAttempted to fix an issue where the player could crouch but could not stand up (please report if it still occurs)Added a slight camera distortion effect while running to enhance the sense of speed and tensionFixed a clipping issue when flipping/reading the bookRead full article on Community Announcements (狗猫鼠工作室)Patch NotesOfficial
The Grotto Diary Demo Patch Notes & Thank You for Your Support! (2026/05/05)
Hello everyone, this is Weiran.First of all, thank you so much for downloading and playing The Grotto Diary Demo yesterday. I’m also truly grateful to everyone who shared feedback and reported issues through comments, DMs, and the QQ group — it helped me a lot.Since this is still a testing stage and I’m working with very limited manpower, the Demo unfortunately contained some bugs and gameplay issues. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience! I stayed up overnight to fix and improve the game, and a new updated version is now available.Patch Notes (Bug Fixes / Improvements)Expanded resolution settings to include a full list of available optionsFixed issues related to saving settingsFixed a progress-blocking bug when reading the bookFixed an issue with the Settings “Back” buttonIncreased the interaction detection range for the chopsticks, reducing the chance of getting stuckFixed several model clipping issuesFixed a bug where paper was not removed after the box disappearedAdded a “turn on the light” prompt when entering the cave for the first timeAdded a prompt regarding whether the player can crouch/standFixed an issue where shoes appeared incorrectly during the ritual sceneOnce again, thank you all for your support and patience. I will continue improving the Demo based on your feedback, and please feel free to keep sending me bug reports, stuck points, and even your theories about the story.I hope The Grotto Diary can gradually become better with everyone’s help.— Weiran / DogCatMouse StudioRead full article on Community Announcements (261819641)AnnouncementsOfficial
The Grotto Diary Demo Launches on May 4th!
\The Demo will officially be available for download on May 4th at 7:00 PM (Beijing Time).\Chinese psychological horror / light horrorContains some jump-scare momentsIncludes chase sequences\This Demo contains Chapter 1 of the game, with a playtime of approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour (depending on how much you explore). The full version is planned to have around 6 chapters (final content subject to the official release).\If you encounter any bugs, crashes, or abnormal issues during gameplay, feel free to message me directly on Bilibili / Weibo, or join our QQ group to report problems: QQ Group: 229379431Due to limited manpower, we are unable to conduct large-scale testing. However, I and a few friends who helped with testing have played through the Demo many times, and it is relatively stable. If you get stuck or experience issues, you can also open the ESC menu and select “Load Last Checkpoint” to reset. Thank you so much for your understanding!This Demo is currently available only in Simplified Chinese. Due to time and budget limitations, English and Traditional Chinese will be added in future updates.The game currently does not support controllers.\Thank you sincerely for all the support you’ve given me over the years.This project has been like a seed I’ve held in my hands for a very long time. Since this is the first complete game I’ve ever made on my own, I ran into countless difficulties—but I gritted my teeth and kept going. Still, there were many moments of hesitation and anxiety. Sometimes I even felt like I had lost the courage I once had. Many nights I couldn’t sleep, turning things over in my mind again and again.But eventually, I realized something: If I never plant the seed, it will never have a chance to sprout.So this time, I’ve decided to act on impulse—and take a step forward. Even if it isn’t perfect yet, I still want to put it into your hands.I truly hope you’ll enjoy The Grotto Diary. And I hope your feedback can help make it even better.— Weir...Read full article on Community Announcements (261819641)
