Screenshots
Watch trailer on Steam ↗Sterile Childhood: Case 17
IterativeBrain · Published by IterativeBrain
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
The hospital once wrote you into a case file. Now you must recover the life it erased.
Adventure, Indie · More free games
About this game
The hospital once wrote you into a case file. Now you must recover the life it erased.
You wake up inside a sealed, abandoned hospital annex. You have no name, no memory, and only one clue: you were once recorded as Case 17. This place was once used for children’s observation, treatment, and behavioral correction. It has long been deserted, but its sealed files, residual systems, and altered records are still waiting to be reopened.
Explore dim hospital wards, silent corridors, and archive rooms. Search through torn medical records, unlock sealed doors and files, and piece together what really happened inside the facility. When avoidance is no longer possible, survive turn-based card encounters against distorted figures still bound to the hospital’s old system.
A mysterious girl keeps appearing at the edge of your vision. She may be guiding you out — or leading you toward a past you were never meant to remember.
Core Features
You were once one of its cases
The hospital once recorded, evaluated, and rewrote you. As you explore, sealed medical files, access logs, and the “Clinical Audit Report” gradually reveal your past as Case 17. You are not investigating a stranger’s story — you are recovering the parts of yourself that were erased.
Explore sealed wards and archive rooms
Move through abandoned corridors, children’s wards, archive rooms, and sealed medical areas.
Survive card-based psychological encounters
When avoidance is no longer possible, face distorted figures such as the “IV Stand Patient” and the “Ward Rounds Director” in turn-based encounters. Use cards to defend yourself, endure pressure, and find the right moment to strike back while balancing Self and Breakdown.
Fragmented records and hidden truths
Collect keycards, torn reports, and altered medical files. Unlock deeper areas of the hospital and reconstruct the truth from scattered fragments, recovering a life that was sealed, rewritten, and forced to be forgotten.
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Dual Core 2.0 GHz
- Memory: 4096 MB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 or better
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 500 MB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible soundcard
Supported Languages
*languages with full audio support
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
Cloud Save & Achievements Update Now Available
Hello, this update is now available.Update includes:Added Steam Cloud SaveAdded Steam AchievementsUpdated in-game fontsImproved visuals and effectsImproved overall gameplay experienceFixed some known issuesThank you for your support. Feedback is always welcome.Read full article on Community Announcements (Iterative Brain)Patch NotesOfficial
Game Update Notice
This update adds new cards, bringing more variety to combat and decision-making.Some character lines have also received updated voice performances, making the dialogue feel closer to each character’s emotions.We have further refined the map scenes with additional details and atmosphere, making exploration feel more complete.Several overall experience improvements have been made as well, so the game should feel smoother and more immersive than before.Thank you for your continued support. This building is still changing.Read full article on Community Announcements (Iterative Brain)Patch NotesOfficial
Major Rework Update: Chapter One Is Now Available
Major Content and Experience Rework: Chapter One Is Now AvailableHello everyone!This update is the largest overhaul the game has received so far. Over the past period, I have reworked and polished many core parts of the game, including the music, combat sound effects, user interface, card descriptions, combat balance, animations, visual effects, lighting, horror atmosphere, and overall presentation.Most importantly, the full version of Chapter One is now available.Compared to the previous version, which was limited to a small demo map, the current build now offers a much richer and more complete experience. Players can explore a larger and more developed chapter, encounter more content, and experience a gameplay flow that is much closer to the intended final direction of the game.This update is not just about adding more content. It is a major rework of the game’s overall feel, clarity, atmosphere, and moment-to-moment gameplay.Main UpdatesFull Chapter One AddedThe complete first chapter has now been added to the game.Players can now experience a more connected level structure, more varied scenes, a fuller combat flow, and a stronger sense of progression. The game is no longer limited to the small demonstration area from earlier versions.Chapter One is designed to better show the core direction of the game: a combination of card-based combat, horror atmosphere, exploration, and gradual narrative buildup.New Memory Combo SystemA new Memory Combo system has been added.This feature expands the strategic depth of combat by encouraging players to think more carefully about card order, timing, and effect combinations. By planning actions properly, players can trigger stronger and more satisfying combo sequences during battles.With this system, combat is no longer only about playing individual cards. It now places more emphasis on chaining decisions together, managing resources, and finding the right moment to act.Major Music and Sound Effect UpdatesMusic and sound design ...Read full article on Community Announcements (Iterative Brain)Patch NotesOfficial
Demo Update: Improved Opening Experience and Guidance
This update focuses on improving the early experience, helping players enter the atmosphere more quickly and understand what to do with less confusion.Changes in this update:Improved the pacing of the opening sectionAdjusted early guidance to make exploration goals clearerRefined the atmosphere during the first 10 minutesFixed several small issues that could affect the demo experienceUpdated some text and presentation detailsIf you previously claimed the demo but haven’t played it yet, this version should offer a smoother first experience.Thank you for trying the demo. Feedback is always welcome. If you’re interested in the game, please consider adding Sterile Childhood to your wishlist.You can try the updated demo from the Steam store page here: Sterile Childhood: Case 17Read full article on Community Announcements (Iterative Brain)
