Fear Equation

Released: Jan 15, 2016
Platforms: WindowsmacOSLinux
Last updated: 07 Sep 2026, 16:50 GMT

Updates & announcements

20 posts

28 Mar 2023Developer post
Deadnaut: Signal Lost is out now!
Screwfly Studios' sci-fi horror roguelike set in the world of Deadnaut is finally here! Prepare for an unnerving and tense journey to the edges of the galaxy in search of the source of Rip space. As the Handler, you'll control a single Deadnaut, a treasure hunter navigating hazar
28 Mar 2023Developer post
Deadnaut: Signal Lost is out now!
Screwfly Studios' sci-fi horror roguelike set in the world of Deadnaut is finally here! Prepare for an unnerving and tense journey to the edges of the galaxy in search of the source of Rip space. As the Handler, you'll control a single Deadnaut, a treasure hunter navigating hazar
22 Mar 2023Developer post
Deadnaut: Signal Lost gameplay demo now available
Thanks to everyone who tried out the tech demo and gave us feedback. We've now upgraded it to a playable demo, with two suits, more enemies, and additional gear and upgrades. We will make it available here when Steam approves it, but if you want to try it out now, you can get it
10 Mar 2023Developer post
Try the Deadnaut: Signal Lost tech demo now!
We're very close to launching Deadnaut: Signal Lost but we need your help. We've prepared a technical demo of the first few levels of the game and we'd love to get it running on a wider range of systems. This will give you a taste of the game and help us catch any obvious bugs th
28 Oct 2022Developer post
Watch the Deadnaut: Signal Lost trailer!
We know you're keen to hear/see/inhale more about Screwfly's next game, Deadnaut: Signal Lost, and we're happy to say we can deliver! Check out the first trailer for the game right here. Along with the trailer, we've also refreshed the screenshots on the Steam page, as well as ad
01 Nov 2021Developer post
Announcing Deadnaut: Signal Lost!
The cosmos is tearing itself apart. Wrecks of long-dead starships are full of horrible, interdimensional creatures. The dead roam surfaces of moons, and you're being hunted by technically advanced soldiers. Welcome to Signal Lost , Screwfly Studios' return to Deadnaut's grim and
17 Jun 2017Developer post
Zafehouse Diaries 2: Available now!
The sequel to Zafehouse Diaires has arrived! You can now purchase the game on Steam or directly from us. Thanks to everyone who has returned for another outing in the drama-filled, chaotic world of Zafehouse and its unique brand of zombie mayhem! If you'd like a DRM-free version
17 Jun 2017Developer post
Zafehouse Diaries 2: Available now!
The sequel to Zafehouse Diaires has arrived! You can now purchase the game on Steam or directly from us. Thanks to everyone who has returned for another outing in the drama-filled, chaotic world of Zafehouse and its unique brand of zombie mayhem! If you'd like a DRM-free version
18 Aug 2016Developer post
Fear Equation v2.0.2 - Custom passenger improvements and Linux build
As of this update, Linux players can now experience the nightmarish joys of driving through the fog-filled apocalypse of Fear Equation! Plus, a special treat for custom passengers. Fear Equation has been updated to version 2.0.2! This patch marks the release of the Linux version
As of this update, Linux players can now experience the nightmarish joys of driving through the fog-filled apocalypse of Fear Equation! Plus, a special treat for custom passengers.
Fear Equation has been updated to version 2.0.2! This patch marks the release of the Linux version of the game.
While we can only officially support Ubuntu 12.04, the game should run on a variety of distributions. A Linux technical demo is available if you'd like to check if the game is compatible with your setup: https://forums.screwflystudios.com/index.php/topic,890.0.html
We've received a number of requests from players asking for a full, customised allotment of passengers and as of 2.0.2, this is now possible! The custom game screen has been tweaked to support up to 150 player-made passengers.
Finally, we've added five achievements based on the mysterious Wanderers. Time to harness the power of the fog for your own ends...
The changelog for 2.0.2 can be found below:

Added: Fear Equation is now available on Linux. Please note the game is only officially supported on Ubuntu 12.04.
Added: It is now possible to have up to 150 custom passengers. The passenger tabs have been replaced with a list that can be sorted by name, occupation and priority.
Added: (Steam only) Five new achievements based on Wanderer interactions.
Fixed: A typo in the beacon report.
Fixed: An issue with Wanderers as carriage leaders.
Fixed: An issue with passengers being killed while attacking a Wanderer.
Performance: Optimisations to SMAA (anti-aliasing).
Performance: Small optimisation to bloom effect.
It is recommended (but not required) you start a new game after updating, as saved games may not be compatible between versions.
Original post
18 Aug 2016Developer post
Fear Equation v2.0.2 - Custom passenger improvements and Linux build
As of this update, Linux players can now experience the nightmarish joys of driving through the fog-filled apocalypse of Fear Equation! Plus, a special treat for custom passengers. Fear Equation has been updated to version 2.0.2! This patch marks the release of the Linux version
As of this update, Linux players can now experience the nightmarish joys of driving through the fog-filled apocalypse of Fear Equation! Plus, a special treat for custom passengers.
Fear Equation has been updated to version 2.0.2! This patch marks the release of the Linux version of the game.
While we can only officially support Ubuntu 12.04, the game should run on a variety of distributions. A Linux technical demo is available if you'd like to check if the game is compatible with your setup: https://forums.screwflystudios.com/index.php/topic,890.0.html
We've received a number of requests from players asking for a full, customised allotment of passengers and as of 2.0.2, this is now possible! The custom game screen has been tweaked to support up to 150 player-made passengers.
Finally, we've added five achievements based on the mysterious Wanderers. Time to harness the power of the fog for your own ends...
The changelog for 2.0.2 can be found below:

Added: Fear Equation is now available on Linux. Please note the game is only officially supported on Ubuntu 12.04.
Added: It is now possible to have up to 150 custom passengers. The passenger tabs have been replaced with a list that can be sorted by name, occupation and priority.
Added: (Steam only) Five new achievements based on Wanderer interactions.
Fixed: A typo in the beacon report.
Fixed: An issue with Wanderers as carriage leaders.
Fixed: An issue with passengers being killed while attacking a Wanderer.
Performance: Optimisations to SMAA (anti-aliasing).
Performance: Small optimisation to bloom effect.
It is recommended (but not required) you start a new game after updating, as saved games may not be compatible between versions.
Original post
07 Jun 2016Developer post
The Screwfly Collection - get all our games for 15% off!
Love Fear Equation? Why not grab The Screwfly Collection containing our other games, Zafehouse Diaries and Deadnaut? Complete the set and save 15%! We've just released a special discounted Steam bundle containing all three of Screwfly Studios' strategy titles - Fear Equation, Zaf
07 Jun 2016Developer post
The Screwfly Collection - get all our games for 15% off!
Love Fear Equation? Why not grab The Screwfly Collection containing our other games, Zafehouse Diaries and Deadnaut? Complete the set and save 15%! We've just released a special discounted Steam bundle containing all three of Screwfly Studios' strategy titles - Fear Equation, Zaf
01 Apr 2016Developer post
Fear Equation update - Trading cards & new achievements
As a special treat for Steam players, we've released a new update that includes trading cards and seven new achievements, including ones specific to the Blockade scenario introduced in v2.0.0. To start collecting trading cards, just fire up Fear Equation and get playing! They wil
[img=http://fearequation.com/images/marketing/tcbanner.png]
As a special treat for Steam players, we've released a new update that includes trading cards and seven new achievements, including ones specific to the Blockade scenario introduced in v2.0.0.
To start collecting trading cards, just fire up Fear Equation and get playing! They will drop at regular intervals and once you get enough, you'll be able to redeem them for badges, backgrounds and emoticons.
As for the achievements, here's a taste:

Battle Stations: Win a battle against the military with your weapons optimally configured during the Blockade scenario
Playing God: Create a custom passenger (yes, you can make your own!)
Know It All: Find all 5 pieces of intelligence in a single game during the Blockade scenario
For all the new achievements, be sure to check out the dedicated page.
That's all for now Engineers - keep your eyes on the tracks and keep your passengers safe...
Original post
01 Apr 2016Developer post
Fear Equation update - Trading cards & new achievements
As a special treat for Steam players, we've released a new update that includes trading cards and seven new achievements, including ones specific to the Blockade scenario introduced in v2.0.0. To start collecting trading cards, just fire up Fear Equation and get playing! They wil
[img=http://fearequation.com/images/marketing/tcbanner.png]
As a special treat for Steam players, we've released a new update that includes trading cards and seven new achievements, including ones specific to the Blockade scenario introduced in v2.0.0.
To start collecting trading cards, just fire up Fear Equation and get playing! They will drop at regular intervals and once you get enough, you'll be able to redeem them for badges, backgrounds and emoticons.
As for the achievements, here's a taste:

Battle Stations: Win a battle against the military with your weapons optimally configured during the Blockade scenario
Playing God: Create a custom passenger (yes, you can make your own!)
Know It All: Find all 5 pieces of intelligence in a single game during the Blockade scenario
For all the new achievements, be sure to check out the dedicated page.
That's all for now Engineers - keep your eyes on the tracks and keep your passengers safe...
Original post
15 Mar 2016Developer post
Fear Equation v2.0.0 - New mode: Blockade
Yes, you read that right! Fear Equation just hit the big 2.0.0. Why the jump from 1.6.0? Well, Fear Equation has received its meatiest update ever -- an entirely new game mode called "Blockade"! In this scenario, the military has set up a blockade to the East. Take a squad of mil
[img=http://fearequation.com/images/marketing/v200banner.png]
Yes, you read that right! Fear Equation just hit the big 2.0.0. Why the jump from 1.6.0? Well, Fear Equation has received its meatiest update ever -- an entirely new game mode called "Blockade"!
In this scenario, the military has set up a blockade to the East. Take a squad of military deserters, upgrade your train's weapons and bust through the blockade. But be quick and efficient: if you lose someone, you can't replace them - and in a few weeks, the military will bomb the region.

Take charge of a single carriage and 15 military deserters
Upgrade the train's weapons and take out the roaming military forces
Watch combat unfold in real-time via a new mode on the mission computer
Discover secret military documents that provide special bonuses
Manage damage to subsystems and prioritise repairs
And more...
Please note we're still fine-tuning this experimental mode, so expect a balance / bug fix patch or two down the road!
We also highly recommend only experienced players tackle Blockade -- a strong familiarity with the fundamentals of the game is required to master the scenario.
Regarding custom games: Firstly, custom passengers are not shared between game modes. Secondly, you cannot create custom Engineers for the Blockade scenario. Finally, the selection of occupations differs between modes, with Blockade restricted to a small pool of more combat-focused careers.
For all the changes in 2.0.0, check out the changelog below:

Added: New game mode - Blockade. The military has set up a blockade to the East. Take a squad of military deserters, upgrade your train's weapons and bust through the blockade. Note that the original game mode is now called "Salvation".
Tweak: Pressing the time acceleration key while in the rear section of the train during the guard phase will automatically put the player into bed.
Tweak: Slightly increased the speed of the "falling asleep" animation.
Tweak: The player ID card and modifier bundle have been moved to the carriage console.
Tweak: The dream log and lottery card are now hidden for carriages containing no passengers.
Fixed: (Windows) Reverted volumetric lighting quality to pre-1.6.0 levels.
Fixed: Potential issues with holding the carriage console notebook and attempting actions such as moving or accelerating time.
Fixed: "NaN" appearing in the loading text during startup.
Fixed: The graphics options menu is no longer cut-off on non-16:10 resolutions.
Fixed: Map generation elements not being cleaned-up properly on new games.
Fixed: A visual issue in Direct3D 9 where UI elements would disappear.
Fixed: A few visual issues with map pin placement.
Fixed: Workarounds for erroneous damage messages involving the Rewind fear.
Performance: Small optimisations to light cookie textures.
Performance: Various optimisations to reduce memory and CPU demands.
It is recommended you start a new game after updating, as saved games may not be compatible between versions.
Original post
15 Mar 2016Developer post
Fear Equation v2.0.0 - New mode: Blockade
Yes, you read that right! Fear Equation just hit the big 2.0.0. Why the jump from 1.6.0? Well, Fear Equation has received its meatiest update ever -- an entirely new game mode called "Blockade"! In this scenario, the military has set up a blockade to the East. Take a squad of mil
[img=http://fearequation.com/images/marketing/v200banner.png]
Yes, you read that right! Fear Equation just hit the big 2.0.0. Why the jump from 1.6.0? Well, Fear Equation has received its meatiest update ever -- an entirely new game mode called "Blockade"!
In this scenario, the military has set up a blockade to the East. Take a squad of military deserters, upgrade your train's weapons and bust through the blockade. But be quick and efficient: if you lose someone, you can't replace them - and in a few weeks, the military will bomb the region.

Take charge of a single carriage and 15 military deserters
Upgrade the train's weapons and take out the roaming military forces
Watch combat unfold in real-time via a new mode on the mission computer
Discover secret military documents that provide special bonuses
Manage damage to subsystems and prioritise repairs
And more...
Please note we're still fine-tuning this experimental mode, so expect a balance / bug fix patch or two down the road!
We also highly recommend only experienced players tackle Blockade -- a strong familiarity with the fundamentals of the game is required to master the scenario.
Regarding custom games: Firstly, custom passengers are not shared between game modes. Secondly, you cannot create custom Engineers for the Blockade scenario. Finally, the selection of occupations differs between modes, with Blockade restricted to a small pool of more combat-focused careers.
For all the changes in 2.0.0, check out the changelog below:

Added: New game mode - Blockade. The military has set up a blockade to the East. Take a squad of military deserters, upgrade your train's weapons and bust through the blockade. Note that the original game mode is now called "Salvation".
Tweak: Pressing the time acceleration key while in the rear section of the train during the guard phase will automatically put the player into bed.
Tweak: Slightly increased the speed of the "falling asleep" animation.
Tweak: The player ID card and modifier bundle have been moved to the carriage console.
Tweak: The dream log and lottery card are now hidden for carriages containing no passengers.
Fixed: (Windows) Reverted volumetric lighting quality to pre-1.6.0 levels.
Fixed: Potential issues with holding the carriage console notebook and attempting actions such as moving or accelerating time.
Fixed: "NaN" appearing in the loading text during startup.
Fixed: The graphics options menu is no longer cut-off on non-16:10 resolutions.
Fixed: Map generation elements not being cleaned-up properly on new games.
Fixed: A visual issue in Direct3D 9 where UI elements would disappear.
Fixed: A few visual issues with map pin placement.
Fixed: Workarounds for erroneous damage messages involving the Rewind fear.
Performance: Small optimisations to light cookie textures.
Performance: Various optimisations to reduce memory and CPU demands.
It is recommended you start a new game after updating, as saved games may not be compatible between versions.
Original post
15 Feb 2016Developer post
Fear Equation v1.6.0 - The Wanderers
1.6.0 has arrived and along with the usual bounty of streamlining improvements, fixes and tweaks, this update marks the debut of the mysterious and powerful Wanderers. The Wanderers are Fearless who wish to leave the fog, but need the Engineer's help to do so. When you encounter
[img=http://fearequation.com/images/marketing/v160banner.png]
1.6.0 has arrived and along with the usual bounty of streamlining improvements, fixes and tweaks, this update marks the debut of the mysterious and powerful Wanderers.
The Wanderers are Fearless who wish to leave the fog, but need the Engineer's help to do so. When you encounter a Wanderer, you'll have to decide what to do with them. If you let them on the train, they'll bring special abilities with them -- even more powerful than VIP modifiers.
The Wanderers' abilities come at a price, however. So, it's time to ask yourself: Just how far are you willing to go to survive the fog?
Also in this patch, we've added a number of settings to streamline the game for experienced players. These can be accessed via the new "Gameplay" options menu:

Page turning animations: Enabled by default. When disabled, all books in the game, including the carriage console notebook and manuals, will have their pages turn instantly. This can also provide a performance boost on systems with low-end CPUs.
Faster movement transitions: Disabled by default. When enabled, the crossfade effect when moving around the cabin and jumping between cabin areas will be much shorter. Turning using the keyboard is also significantly quicker.
Sleep immediately on time acceleration: Disabled by default. When enabled, pressing the time acceleration key (normally Tab) or clicking on the clock at the front of the cabin will make the player fall asleep immediately, bypassing the need to move to the bed and wait for the sleep animation to finish.
Everything included in 1.6.0 can be found below:

Added: The Wanderers. Wanderers are Fearless who wish to leave the fog, but need the Engineer's help to do so. Wanderers brought onto the train grant special powers... for a price.
Added: Gameplay options menu. This menu adds the following settings: Disable page turning animations; Faster cabin movement and Instant sleep.
Tweak: It is now possible to select pages in the carriage console notebook using 0-9, with "0" representing the 10th carriage. Pressing the tilde or minus key will select the overview pages.
Added: Ambient sounds when passengers board and alight from the train.
Tweak: Modifier cards provided by passengers now show which carriage that passenger is from.
Tweak: Normal cabin movement / turning is slightly faster.
Fixed: Idle passengers would sometimes not start repairs automatically.
Fixed: Food not being destroyed properly, causing it to reappear in loaded games.
Fixed: An issue with the vignette screen effect.
Fixed: Various issues with letterboxed resolutions resulting in visual garbage.
Fixed: Moving to and from the bed using the keyboard now plays the correct sound effects.
Fixed: Jump keys (F1-F4) being enabled when they shouldn't.
Fixed: Additional workarounds for the lottery phase being skipped after waking up.
Fixed: A workaround for duplicate disappearance reports.
Fixed: An issue with Twitch integration and SSL connections.
Fixed: Twitch integration now uses moderator names in addition to viewers.
Fixed: (Mac OS X) Workarounds to address visual corruption caused by the volumetric lighting effect.
Performance: Small optimisations to book page turning.
It is recommended you start a new game after updating, as saved games may not be compatible between versions.
Original post
15 Feb 2016Developer post
Fear Equation v1.6.0 - The Wanderers
1.6.0 has arrived and along with the usual bounty of streamlining improvements, fixes and tweaks, this update marks the debut of the mysterious and powerful Wanderers. The Wanderers are Fearless who wish to leave the fog, but need the Engineer's help to do so. When you encounter
[img=http://fearequation.com/images/marketing/v160banner.png]
1.6.0 has arrived and along with the usual bounty of streamlining improvements, fixes and tweaks, this update marks the debut of the mysterious and powerful Wanderers.
The Wanderers are Fearless who wish to leave the fog, but need the Engineer's help to do so. When you encounter a Wanderer, you'll have to decide what to do with them. If you let them on the train, they'll bring special abilities with them -- even more powerful than VIP modifiers.
The Wanderers' abilities come at a price, however. So, it's time to ask yourself: Just how far are you willing to go to survive the fog?
Also in this patch, we've added a number of settings to streamline the game for experienced players. These can be accessed via the new "Gameplay" options menu:

Page turning animations: Enabled by default. When disabled, all books in the game, including the carriage console notebook and manuals, will have their pages turn instantly. This can also provide a performance boost on systems with low-end CPUs.
Faster movement transitions: Disabled by default. When enabled, the crossfade effect when moving around the cabin and jumping between cabin areas will be much shorter. Turning using the keyboard is also significantly quicker.
Sleep immediately on time acceleration: Disabled by default. When enabled, pressing the time acceleration key (normally Tab) or clicking on the clock at the front of the cabin will make the player fall asleep immediately, bypassing the need to move to the bed and wait for the sleep animation to finish.
Everything included in 1.6.0 can be found below:

Added: The Wanderers. Wanderers are Fearless who wish to leave the fog, but need the Engineer's help to do so. Wanderers brought onto the train grant special powers... for a price.
Added: Gameplay options menu. This menu adds the following settings: Disable page turning animations; Faster cabin movement and Instant sleep.
Tweak: It is now possible to select pages in the carriage console notebook using 0-9, with "0" representing the 10th carriage. Pressing the tilde or minus key will select the overview pages.
Added: Ambient sounds when passengers board and alight from the train.
Tweak: Modifier cards provided by passengers now show which carriage that passenger is from.
Tweak: Normal cabin movement / turning is slightly faster.
Fixed: Idle passengers would sometimes not start repairs automatically.
Fixed: Food not being destroyed properly, causing it to reappear in loaded games.
Fixed: An issue with the vignette screen effect.
Fixed: Various issues with letterboxed resolutions resulting in visual garbage.
Fixed: Moving to and from the bed using the keyboard now plays the correct sound effects.
Fixed: Jump keys (F1-F4) being enabled when they shouldn't.
Fixed: Additional workarounds for the lottery phase being skipped after waking up.
Fixed: A workaround for duplicate disappearance reports.
Fixed: An issue with Twitch integration and SSL connections.
Fixed: Twitch integration now uses moderator names in addition to viewers.
Fixed: (Mac OS X) Workarounds to address visual corruption caused by the volumetric lighting effect.
Performance: Small optimisations to book page turning.
It is recommended you start a new game after updating, as saved games may not be compatible between versions.
Original post
07 Feb 2016Developer post
Fear Equation - Future update plans
We're working hard on some meaty updates for Fear Equation, but we can only get them out so fast! Rather than have you waiting for details, we thought we'd give you a peek at what's coming up. Please note that the following features are not final and may change during development
07 Feb 2016Developer post
Fear Equation - Future update plans
We're working hard on some meaty updates for Fear Equation, but we can only get them out so fast! Rather than have you waiting for details, we thought we'd give you a peek at what's coming up. Please note that the following features are not final and may change during development

Updates & announcements

Try the free demo

What's next?

How can I get help with the game?

Try the free demo

What's next?

How can I get help with the game?

What can we expect in the full release?

When will the demo arrive on Steam?

Can I play the demo now without joining the Discord server?

Join the Screwfly Studios Discord Server!

(Check the #general channel topic for links to the tech demo)

FAQ

How long until the game comes out?

Will the demo be available on Steam?

I don't use Discord, can I still try the tech demo?

The sequel to Zafehouse Diaires has arrived! You can now purchase the game on Steam or directly from us.

The sequel to Zafehouse Diaires has arrived! You can now purchase the game on Steam or directly from us.

As of this update, Linux players can now experience the nightmarish joys of driving through the fog-filled apocalypse of Fear Equation! Plus, a special treat for custom passengers.

As of this update, Linux players can now experience the nightmarish joys of driving through the fog-filled apocalypse of Fear Equation! Plus, a special treat for custom passengers.

Love Fear Equation? Why not grab The Screwfly Collection containing our other games, Zafehouse Diaries and Deadnaut? Complete the set and save 15%!

Love Fear Equation? Why not grab The Screwfly Collection containing our other games, Zafehouse Diaries and Deadnaut? Complete the set and save 15%!

As a special treat for Steam players, we've released a new update that includes trading cards and seven new achievements, including ones specific to the Blockade scenario introduced in v2.0.0.

As a special treat for Steam players, we've released a new update that includes trading cards and seven new achievements, including ones specific to the Blockade scenario introduced in v2.0.0.

Yes, you read that right! Fear Equation just hit the big 2.0.0. Why the jump from 1.6.0? Well, Fear Equation has received its meatiest update ever -- an entirely new game mode called "Blockade"!

Please note we're still fine-tuning this experimental mode, so expect a balance / bug fix patch or two down the road!

Yes, you read that right! Fear Equation just hit the big 2.0.0. Why the jump from 1.6.0? Well, Fear Equation has received its meatiest update ever -- an entirely new game mode called "Blockade"!

Please note we're still fine-tuning this experimental mode, so expect a balance / bug fix patch or two down the road!

1.6.0 has arrived and along with the usual bounty of streamlining improvements, fixes and tweaks, this update marks the debut of the mysterious and powerful Wanderers.

1.6.0 has arrived and along with the usual bounty of streamlining improvements, fixes and tweaks, this update marks the debut of the mysterious and powerful Wanderers.

We're working hard on some meaty updates for Fear Equation, but we can only get them out so fast!

Gameplay improvements

New events

New game mode

We're working hard on some meaty updates for Fear Equation, but we can only get them out so fast!

Gameplay improvements

New events

New game mode