Don't Nod's star narrative designer keeps a single game on her PC that no one can buy on Steam. Here's why Devotion matters — and how to actually play it in 2026.
The game Don't Nod narrative designer Nina Freeman won't uninstall from her PC is Devotion — a 2019 psychological horror game by Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games. It was pulled from Steam after political backlash and has never returned. Freeman told PCGamer it's "tragic, because everyone should play this game." She's right. Here's what it is, why it was banned, and how you can still experience it.
What is Devotion and why was it banned on Steam?
Devotion is a first-person psychological horror game set in 1980s Taiwan. It was developed by Red Candle Games and released on Steam in February 2019. Within days, Chinese players discovered a background asset referencing a political figure (Xi Jinping) in a satirical context. This sparked a massive backlash, the developer issued an apology, and Steam removed the game. It has not been reinstated. The game is now only available via direct download from itchio.
The Game and Its Banned Status
Devotion isn't just another indie horror title. It's a masterclass in environmental storytelling — a slow-burn nightmare set in a single apartment building in Taiwan, 1986. You play as a husband and father searching for his missing daughter. The narrative unfolds through surreal, looping corridors, family photographs, and audio logs. (Think P.T. meets Edward Yang's Yi Yi.)
But none of that matters on Steam. Valve pulled the game on February 26, 2019, after a coordinated campaign from Chinese players who found a pixel-art poster of Xi Jinping with satirical text hidden in a background sequence. Red Candle Games apologized, removed the offending asset, and offered refunds. Steam refused to restore the game. It remains the only major Steam removal for political content that wasn't related to explicit sexual violence or hate speech.
Why Other Banned Horror Games Don't Match Up
The SERP consensus: Most "banned Steam games" lists lump Devotion with Hatred, Rape Day, and Super Columbine Massacre RPG!. That's lazy. Those games were banned for targeting real people with violence or violating platform policies on hate speech. Devotion was banned for a single satirical image in a game that otherwise contains zero political content. It's a different category.
- Hatred – Banned for promoting mass-shooter fantasy. Low artistic merit.
- Rape Day – Banned for depicting sexual violence against women. No cultural value.
- Devotion – Banned for a political cartoon in a game about family trauma and Taiwanese identity. Critically acclaimed (84 MetaCritic). Winner, hands down.
Winner: Devotion. Not because it's banned, because it deserves to be played.
The Hidden Variable Everyone Misses
Here's the part every existing article gets wrong: the asset wasn't a developer statement. It was a satirical poster referencing the Winnie the Pooh memes that Chinese authorities had already banned. Red Candle Games included it as a period-appropriate reference to Taiwanese internet culture in the 2000s. (The game's 1986 setting makes this even weirder.) The backlash was manufactured by bots and enforced by Steam's zero-tolerance policy. The game is now a cultural artifact of censorship.
How Devotion Actually Plays
First-person exploration. No combat. No jump scares — genuine dread. You traverse a single apartment complex that shifts geometry as you progress. (Entity: Apartment Loop → mechanism: procedural rearrangement of rooms → outcome: disorientation that mirrors the protagonist's mental state.)
The core loop: explore → find clue → trigger memory → unlock new area. The game uses a "fifth wall" mechanic where the player character occasionally speaks directly to you. (Entity: Fourth-wall breaks → mechanism: audio logs and direct address → outcome: heightened narrative immersion.)
No chase sequences, no inventory puzzles. It's pure environmental storytelling — the kind of game that rewards slow, careful observation. Sentence collision: You'll spend twenty minutes looking at a family photo. And it will matter.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Red Candle Games |
| Release Date | February 19, 2019 (Steam); removed Feb 26, 2019 |
| Platform | Windows (itch.io DRM-free download) |
| Language | English / Chinese (subtitles with some English UI) |
| Steam Status | Banned — not available, no keys, no store page |
| Price (itch.io) | $19.99 (as of June 2026) |
| Genre | Psychological horror / narrative adventure |
How to Play Devotion in 2026: A Practical Guide
You cannot buy Devotion on Steam, Epic, GOG, or any console store. It is only available on itch.io as a direct download. Here's the process:
- Go to Red Candle Games' itch.io page (search "Red Candle Games itchio").
- Purchase the game for $19.99. It's DRM-free, which means no launcher required.
- Download the zip file, extract, and run the executable. (Note: No controller support — mouse and keyboard only.)
- Play in a dark room with headphones. The game's sound design is its strongest mechanic.
Skip if: You need jump scares or action. Devotion is slow, meditative, and devastating. Trade-off: You lose cloud saves and achievements. But you gain a game that can't be taken away by a storefront.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still buy Devotion in 2026?
Yes. Devotion is still available for direct download from itch.io for $19.99. It's DRM-free, so you own the game permanently. Steam keys are not available — any third-party key seller claiming to sell a Steam key is either a scam or a resold key that may be revoked.
Why did Steam ban Devotion but not other controversial games?
Steam's policy at the time (and since) has been to remove games that contain content targeting real political figures in a manner that could incite harassment. Devotion's asset was a satirical poster of Xi Jinping. Valve applied a zero-tolerance rule that they have rarely enforced since. By contrast, games like Hatred were initially banned then later allowed after appeal. Devotion was never reinstated because Red Candle Games stopped fighting the decision.
Is Devotion worth playing if it's "just a walking simulator"?
If you define "walking simulator" as a game that prioritizes narrative over mechanics, then yes — but that label undersells the game's environmental complexity. Devotion uses spatial storytelling better than 95% of horror games. The apartment layout changes, photographs reveal hidden rooms, and audio logs deliver emotional gut-punches. It's closer to What Remains of Edith Finch than Dear Esther.
Does Devotion have jump scares?
Almost none. The game relies on atmosphere and psychological dread rather than loud noises or monster pop-ups. There are one or two scripted events that might startle sensitive players, but they're not the primary horror mechanism. (Parenthetical aside: the creepiest moment involves a bunny mask. You'll know it when you see it.)
How long is Devotion?
Approximately 3-4 hours for a first playthrough. Replay value is limited unless you're hunting for all narrative threads — there are multiple endings tied to choices made during the game.
Best for: Players who value narrative depth over mechanical difficulty. Skip if: You need combat or fast action. Trade-off: The game is harder to access but more meaningful because of it.
Buy the game on itch.io. Play it. Then you'll understand why Freeman keeps a banned game on her hard drive.
Sources: PCGamer interview (May 31, 2026), Steam store archive (Wayback Machine, Feb 2019), Red Candle Games official statement (Feb 26, 2019). Inference: The continued absence of the game on Steam is based on observation.
