Start Your Underwater Adventure in Tideheart
Broken Tail Interactive has released a free playable demo for its upcoming story-driven title Tideheart on itch.io, giving players an early look at the studio’s underwater adventure. Previously known as The Azure Project, the game now carries a new name and visual identity, both crafted by co-founder and creative lead Jamie McNeill. The rebranding highlights the game’s focus on myth, mystery, and emotional storytelling set beneath the ocean’s surface.
The demo arrived as part of MerMay, the global art event celebrating mermaid-themed creations that has attracted millions of participants since its launch in 2016. By timing the release with this event, the studio places its project directly within a community already engaged with similar themes and aesthetics.
“MerMay is a month when people all over the world make art about mermaids. We have quietly been building a game about a sibling merfolk duo exploring a flooded world in search of a powerful artifact for their village,” said Jamie McNeill, Co-Founder and Creative Head of Broken Tail Interactive. “Putting our vertical slice demo out during MerMay immerses the MerMay community in an interactive mermaid themed experience. We want players to dive in, play and share feedback with us!”
The 20 to 30-minute demo introduces the main characters, showcases underwater traversal mechanics, and features a selection of puzzles. Designed as a vertical slice, it offers a snapshot of the gameplay experience while inviting players to share feedback on controls, combat, and overall appeal.
With this early release, Broken Tail Interactive is clearly aiming to refine Tideheart through community input, setting the stage for further development ahead.