The indie horror game Horses has surprisingly sold over 18,000 copies despite being banned from both Steam and the Epic Games Store just before its launch. Publisher Santa Ragione announced that this success has generated around $65,000 in net revenue, enabling them to cover costs like royalties to creator Andrea Lucco Borlera and repay development loans. However, this revenue is insufficient for funding a new game. The bans arose due to content deemed inappropriate, prompting discussions about censorship and the lack of clear policies from major distribution platforms. Despite the controversy, game critics have rated Horses positively, praising its compelling narrative.

Why was Horses banned from Steam and Epic Games Store?

Horses was banned due to content considered inappropriate by both platforms. The developer Santa Ragione indicated that Valve's refusal to allow the game stemmed from a scene in an earlier version that involved child imagery, prompting a reevaluation of content standards.

Horses is a unique horror title that follows a young man's unsettling experience at a horse farm, where he discovers that the "horses" are humans under disturbing circumstances. This exploration of themes like complicity and moral horror marks it as a thought-provoking entry in the indie horror genre. Santa Ragione has garnered a reputation for pushing narrative boundaries in gaming with their previous titles, such as Mediterranea Inferno and Saturnalia, which have also received commendable accolades.