Child of Lothian
The streets of 18th century Edinburgh disappear beneath the shadows of witch hunters looming in the streets. Hushed whispers appear in every corner and suspicious gazes of townspeople fall upon their neighbors, as friends become enemies. Among the townsfolk of Edinburgh, there is a young orphan called Katheryn. A helpful man, who she now regards as her new mentor, is teaching her crucial survival skills to evade the evil witch hunters and survive the streets of Edinburgh.
Key Features
Become Katheryn, a recently orphaned girl, who is accused of witch craft. Katheryn is learning how to use her sling and stealthily traverse in order to survive the streets of Edinburgh.
- Find pebbles and use your sling to create distractions or destroy objects.
- Evade the witch hunters by sneaking through the streets of Edinburgh and using the environment to your advantage.
- Sharing is caring, any valuables people carry on them are not safe from your pickpocketing.
- Scramble around the city to find loot or to get a better vantage point.
Explore the winding, damp streets of the old town on your journey to survive the witch hunts. The town is full of secrets and characters to meet and interact with. Every problem has its own set of solutions and completing errands for the town-folk leads to different outcomes. Make your own choices and live to see the consequences.
- Explore a reimagining of 18th century Edinburgh.
- A bustling, living city.
In an era of widespread fanaticism, witch hunters are roaming the city, searching everywhere for witches. These relentless zealots have accused, judged and executed your family. The witch hunters are onto you and will stop at nothing to hunt you down.
- A menacing force with an iron grip on the city.
- Don’t get caught!
- Witch hunters will use evidence you leave behind to find you and chase you throughout the world.
Game Discussion
Steam User 0
Cool little student project. Great setting and ideas - be cool to see this fleshed out one day. Achievements are bugged so be aware if you are jumping in for that. 5/10 for effort and ideas.
Steam User 0
Child of Lothian, developed by Exploding Apples and published by Breda University of Applied Sciences, is a stealth-focused adventure that combines historical inspiration with survival-driven storytelling. Set in an interpretation of eighteenth-century Edinburgh during a period shaped by fear and persecution, the game places players inside a world where suspicion dominates everyday life and survival often depends on remaining unseen. Rather than relying on combat-heavy gameplay or large-scale action sequences, the experience focuses on stealth, exploration, and environmental interaction to tell a more personal story centered around loss and resilience.
Players step into the role of Katheryn, a young orphan struggling to survive after tragedy tears apart her family. Accused through hysteria and targeted by witch hunters, those closest to her become victims of fear-driven persecution, forcing Katheryn into a dangerous situation where every decision matters. Left alone in a hostile environment, she must navigate city streets, avoid capture, and uncover ways to endure while dangerous forces continue searching for her. The narrative immediately establishes emotional stakes, creating a survival story built around vulnerability rather than power.
The setting stands among the game's strongest qualities. Edinburgh itself becomes far more than a simple backdrop. The city feels intentionally designed to support both atmosphere and gameplay, with narrow streets, crowded districts, hidden paths, and aging architecture reinforcing the tension surrounding Katheryn’s situation. Environmental storytelling plays a major role throughout the experience, encouraging players to observe surroundings carefully rather than rushing from objective to objective.
Stealth mechanics serve as the foundation of progression. Katheryn is not a warrior equipped to overpower enemies directly. Survival depends on patience, observation, and movement planning. Players must avoid witch hunters patrolling dangerous areas while learning how to navigate environments carefully enough to avoid attracting attention. The game consistently reinforces the idea that caution matters more than aggression.
Movement through the city becomes increasingly engaging because exploration extends beyond simple navigation. Hidden routes provide safer travel opportunities, rooftops create alternate approaches, and environmental layouts reward players willing to think creatively. The city encourages experimentation, making progression feel more dynamic than simply following predetermined paths.
One of the game's more interesting mechanics revolves around Katheryn’s sling. Instead of functioning primarily as a combat tool, it operates as a survival instrument designed around distraction and problem-solving. Players can collect objects and use them strategically to manipulate situations or create opportunities for safer movement. This mechanic strengthens the broader design philosophy by emphasizing intelligence and adaptability over direct confrontation.
Additional systems further reinforce survival themes. Pickpocketing opportunities allow Katheryn to acquire useful resources when necessary, while interactions with citizens create moments that expand both gameplay possibilities and worldbuilding. Small decisions often influence progression, helping the world feel more reactive and believable rather than existing solely as a static environment.
The game also introduces elements that strengthen tension by making enemy behavior feel responsive. Threats do not always function as predictable patrol routes waiting to be bypassed. Player actions and environmental awareness influence how danger develops throughout the experience, creating uncertainty that supports the stealth mechanics effectively. The constant possibility of being discovered helps maintain pressure during exploration.
Visually, Child of Lothian succeeds through atmosphere rather than technical scale. Lighting, environmental composition, and historical influences work together to establish a setting that feels distinct and memorable. The visual presentation may not compete directly with larger productions in terms of complexity, but artistic direction compensates effectively by creating a strong sense of place.
Historical inspiration gives the experience additional weight. Fear, superstition, and social injustice become central themes rather than simple background details. The setting allows the game to explore survival through a perspective not often represented in stealth-focused adventures, helping it stand apart from more familiar fantasy or science-fiction settings.
The game occasionally reveals limitations associated with smaller productions. Some technical aspects and animations may feel less polished compared to larger commercial projects. Certain mechanics can also appear simpler than players accustomed to major stealth franchises might expect. However, creative direction and atmosphere consistently help compensate for those limitations.
What makes Child of Lothian memorable is how effectively it combines historical influence with personal storytelling. Katheryn’s journey remains engaging because danger feels constant and survival never becomes routine. The experience succeeds by making players feel vulnerable without making them powerless.
Players who enjoy slower-paced stealth gameplay, atmospheric exploration, and narrative experiences built around survival rather than combat will likely find plenty to appreciate here. Child of Lothian delivers a focused adventure that relies on careful design choices and strong thematic direction rather than overwhelming scale.
A compelling stealth adventure strengthened by historical atmosphere, thoughtful survival mechanics, and emotional storytelling that creates an experience both immersive and memorable.
Rating: 7/10
Steam User 0
For a free game, it's pretty ok. The story is interesting. The graphism are not that great but that's fine.
Steam User 0
Fun little game to pass the time