Indie studio Mostly Human Works has opened a public playtest for its debut survival horror game, CUFFED. The playtest runs from September 17 to 24, 2026, and is available now through Steam.
CUFFED is a combat-free survival horror game built around environmental puzzles and a unique mechanic: protagonist Alisa’s hands are permanently bound by an unbreakable mechanical cuff. Players must use the cuff as both a restraint and a tool while navigating the mysterious HELLIX laboratory, avoiding hostile specimens and uncovering the secrets hidden within the facility.
As Alisa cannot use conventional weapons, survival depends on stealth, environmental awareness and problem-solving. Players can hide in shadows, crawl through ventilation shafts and carefully navigate the facility to avoid the creatures roaming its corridors.
The mechanical cuff also functions as a universal access device. Players can read its LED indicators, locate synchronization chambers and upgrade its clearance level to reach increasingly restricted areas.
Solve Puzzles and Manage Limited Resources
The laboratory is filled with systemic logic puzzles involving security systems, electrical circuits, power boxes and emergency protocols. Alisa’s bound hands also limit her to carrying one item at a time, forcing players to consider which tools to take and where to leave them as they progress through each area.
The full game will take players through three distinct sectors of the underground facility:
- White Lab — A sterile research environment where players learn the facility’s systems.
- Flooded Lab — A deteriorating section filled with failing infrastructure.
- Dark Lab — A pitch-black area where players can uncover more about the facility and its mysteries.
The current public playtest allows players to explore one complete sector of the HELLIX laboratory. Players can participate by visiting the game’s Steam page and selecting Request Access.
