Today, Panache Digital Games showcased the latest look at its narrative-driven action adventure set in a supernatural version of 17th-century Amsterdam, 1666: Amsterdam.
1666: Amsterdam Developer Diary #2 (Devlog #2), “Painting Three Eras,” focuses heavily on the game’s art direction, lighting, and animation styles. Led by creative director Patrice Désilets, the video features several prominent team members sharing behind-the-scenes insights into how they brought the dark historical fantasy setting to life.
The video outlines three timelines that players will explore, each with its own visual identity and atmosphere:
- The 17th Century (1666): Heavily inspired by Dutch Golden Age oil paintings, featuring dramatic shadow play and rich, classical textures.
- 1999: Emphasizes cinematic, late-90s tones and specific camera aesthetics to capture the pre-millennium era.
- The Present Day: Rooted in crisp, grounded realism to contrast against the historical and cinematic sections.
The 1666 setting draws directly from Dutch Golden Age paintings, with the art team using traditional oil painting techniques, shadow work, and historical research to shape the game’s environments. The team also stated that they hope to use the timeframe and its unique take on secret societies and craft to create tension and suspicion, helping to replicate what it was like when people were accused of being witches.
This will obviously be considerably more exaggerated than the stories it will take inspiration from, as it will feature terrifying demons and other supernatural entities of fictitious nature. The video also highlighted that a free prologue is now available, introducing the game’s world and main characters, and letting players experience Noa’s Commencement and journey to a centuries-long conflict.
1666: Amsterdam is being developed by Panache Digital Games, the independent studio founded by Patrice Désilets, best known as the creative director behind Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and the original Assassin’s Creed. The story centers on Noa Brooklyn, born as The Collector and raised by Zaindaris, whose goal is to recover supernatural power stolen by The Originals, immortal beings who have lived among humans for centuries.
Players explore a handcrafted Amsterdam that shifts between day and night in 1666: Amsterdam. By day, the city is lively and prosperous. At night, its supernatural side appears. Players must identify The Originals, disguised as citizens, and confront them during ritual Esbats when they reveal their true forms.
Combat and progression focus on Noa’s witchcraft and spellcasting, letting players approach each target with different strategies, using choices, timing, and tactics to determine the outcome. Aaron, a second playable character summoned from 1999, experiences the world as a cat. You can switch between Noa and Aaron: Noa uses magic, while Aaron relies on feline agility to explore and interact with the environment.
For more information on this and other upcoming RPGs, be sure to check back to Simulation Daily for updates.
