Withering Rooms

Release Year: 2024

Genres: Action, Adventure, Horror, RPG, Survival

Publisher: Perp Games

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Welsh References: Actor, Cuisine, Folklore, Historical Figure, Inspiration, Language, Location, Mythical Creature, Mythical Figure, Mythology, Name, National Flag

Welsh Locations: Aberdare, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Newport

Welsh Actor: Dafydd (vodafydd)

Welsh People: Saint Elli

Welsh Mythology Figure: Ceridwen

Welsh Mythology Creature: Mari Lwyd

Links: Steam

Featured Welsh Content

To learn more about the development and Welsh inspiration of Withering Rooms, be sure to read my interview with Troy West, the solo developer at Moonless Formless.

Withering Rooms is set within the fictional Mostyn House mansion in Monmouthshire, Wales.

There are characters with Welsh names, including Dafydd, Tomos, and Eira (eira is a Welsh word meaning “snow”).

Two enemies appearing as a pair are Sothach and Baw, Welsh words meaning “junk” and “dirt”, respectively.

Some of the enemies, voiced by Welsh voice actor Dafydd (vodafydd), can be heard speaking Cymraeg, with the Welsh subtitles appearing untranslated at the bottom of the screen.

Areas outside of the manor have Welsh names, such as Bryn Bach Abbey (Small Hill Abbey), Twr Gwaed Ruins (Blood Tower Ruins), and Duwern Brook (Black Swamp Brook).

St. Elli’s Church is another location, which references 6th-century Welsh Saint Elli. There is a real church called St. Elli’s Church in Llanelly, Monmouthshire, with another dedicated to the saint in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

With the game set between the years 1892 and 1916, the flag of Wales that was in use during this time is present and hanging from the ceiling of one particular room. The current flag of Wales was adopted in 1953.

The South Wales Gazette newspaper clippings can be found referring to story events in the manor over the years.

Various posters written in the Welsh language can be found throughout the mansion.

The Welsh tradition of the Mari Lwyd is mentioned in dialogue, while an enemy with a horse’s head, simply called Horse Girl, may reference this. A horse skull headwear, called Night Mother’s Mask, can be obtained, which may also be a link to the folk custom.

The name of the Welsh sorceress Ceridwen is referenced in the game with the alternate spelling Cerridwen during a puzzle sequence involving phases of the moon.

One particular consumable food that will heal health is the cheese covered toast dish Welsh rarebit.

Details can be found regarding the places of birth and death of certain characters in the game, with some of these locations in Wales including Aberdare, Abergavenny, and Newport.