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TinyBuild has announced The Lift, a first-person supernatural handyman simulator from debut studio Fantastic Signals. Blending house-flipping gameplay with cosmic storytelling, the title is set to launch on PC in 2026, with console versions to follow. A limited-time public playtest is now live on Steam, giving players an early chance to experience its eerie retrofuturistic world.
Renovation Meets Cosmic Mystery
At its core, The Lift is about restoring the Institute, humanity’s most advanced research facility, which was left adrift in an interdimensional void after a catastrophic incident. Players awaken from stasis to repair and revitalise the sprawling structure while uncovering the truth behind the disaster.
Every floor of the Institute presents a new renovation challenge. Tasks range from simple furniture repairs to complex electrical engineering projects, where players build circuits, reroute power, and manage torque to bring machines back online. Developer Fantastic Signals cites influences from the Strugatsky brothers and the SCP Foundation, blending immersive-sim mechanics with unsettling sci-fi lore.
A Handyman’s Toolkit
Exploration is central to the game. Using the Lift as a mobile base, players will travel across biomes, meet characters with unique quests, and unlock hidden areas. Along the way, they will breathe life into dozens of intricate devices, including vending machines, satellite dishes, and full-scale reactors.
Studio founder and director Ivan Slovtsov described the project as “everything we love about rich worldbuilding, captivating stories, and engaging systems-driven gameplay,” emphasising the team’s three years of development and their background in games like Pathologic 2 and Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
The Lift is scheduled for release on PC in 2026, with console editions to follow. Players can wishlist the game on Steam now and take part in the first Open Playtest to have a taste, but be quick as it is available for a limited time only.
