Niskala: Sacred Knowledge of Leyak

Niskala: Sacred Knowledge of Leyak is an Indonesian indie psychological horror game inspired by Balinese culture, local wisdom, spiritual traditions, and folklore, built with respect and research into the myth of leyak (leak) and the unseen world.

You play as Putu, a college student living in the city. After his grandfather passes away, Putu begins to experience terrifying dreams and supernatural disturbances—symptoms that feel less like illness, and more like something inherited, transferred, or awakened.

His search for answers takes him through a journey of fear, doubt, deception, and spiritual truth: from hospitals that find nothing wrong, to fake healers who exploit his desperation, until he finally meets someone who truly understands what is happening.

As Putu’s insight grows, the line between reality and the unseen begins to collapse—
and the truth behind his grandfather’s final whisper slowly reveals itself.

Narrative, Exploration, and Puzzle-Driven Horror

Niskala is designed as a story-focused exploration experience, where tension is built through atmosphere, sound, and the feeling of being watched.

Players will explore:

• city neighborhoods and cramped living spaces,

• sacred and forbidden locations,

• haunted streets and hidden spiritual routes,

• and Putu’s home village where the truth begins to unfold.

Progression is driven by environmental storytelling, investigation, and puzzles—from decoding clues, finding ritual objects, reading notes, and understanding spiritual rules, to solving situations that require the right actions at the right time.

The puzzles are integrated naturally into the world:
not as “gamey obstacles,” but as part of Putu’s search for meaning and survival.

Multiple Endings — Your Choices Shape the Story

Every decision in Niskala carries consequences.

Will you follow the guidance of a Jero Dasaran, respect sacred traditions, and maintain harmony with ancestral spirits?
Or will you reject the rituals, challenge the unseen rules, and face the cost of defiance?

Your choices lead to different outcomes—
from survival, loss, to hidden truths that only reveal themselves to those who respect the sacred balance.

Feature:

1. Bars

• Health Bar Feel the tension every time you are attacked by an enemy or disturbed by the presence of supernatural/mysterious entities. This bar also interacts with other bars and can recover based on certain conditions set within the game.

• Sanity Bar Each step you take will be tested by supernatural or mystical beings lurking in the shadows. Your heart will race faster as your sanity bar decreases when you get too close to these entities. The effects intensify when the bar reaches zero, plunging you into a hallucinatory world full of riddles.

• Social Bar Every interaction with NPCs has a significant impact. Engaging in meaningful conversations will increase the Social Bar, while lack of interaction will gradually reduce it. Be careful, as improper answers can cause the bar to drop more quickly. Build positive relationships with NPCs to gain benefits, including opportunities to obtain useful items. Prepare yourself for an adventure that involves both mystical entities and valuable interactions with unique characters in this game.

• Bulun Kala Radar "Bulun Kala," or the "fear radar," functions as a tool to detect shifts in the mood and environment. When the radar peaks, signs such as fear, nervousness, and sudden cold chills will manifest. At certain radar levels, it signals a high likelihood of nearby supernatural entities or mystical auras. However, be cautious. If the radar reaches too high and your sanity bar hits critical levels, the intense vibrations from the radar can destabilize your consciousness. Maintain your balance to avoid negative effects from these intense vibrations while navigating a world filled with mysteries and the supernatural.

2. Manners

Real-life manners are implemented in the game, such as greeting with "Om Swastiastu" (equivalent to "excuse me" or "hello") when visiting a house, reflecting traditional Balinese customs.

3. Mystical Street

In Bali, it's common to experience disorientation or lose your way when passing through a notoriously haunted street without saying “Nyelang Margi” (a Balinese phrase similar to 'excuse me'"”). This concept is integrated into the game, where your bars influence this mechanic.

4. Attack

Players can attack Villains /leyak(e.g., "Leak") while keeping an eye on their Social Bar and even the Leak’s Social Bar. Players can use "gamal wood" to throw at or strike the Leak, but timing is crucial. Ensure your Social Bar is higher than the Leak's to create the right momentum.

"In our game world, player attacks reflect prior development and influence future experiences. Decide whether to engage in certain paths based on how well you've built your Health, Sanity, and Social Bars. It's essential to monitor the balance of these bars before advancing the storyline.

To ensure optimal bar conditions from the start, focus on these tips:

• Protect your mind by engaging in activities that enhance emotional stability, such as interacting positively with NPCs and completing tasks effectively.

• Avoid challenging paths highlighted by the Bulun Kala radar if you feel unprepared to advance to the next level.

Our game revolves around an inner duel, with critical words and timing. You can also choose physical actions like deflecting or throwing stone, adding a layer of realism to the combat experience. This way, you can feel a closer connection to reality when facing your fears."

Narrative Concept & Spiritual Social Mechanics in Niskala

In Niskala, we aim to introduce Balinese mythology through a deep and thoughtful approach — exploring pengleakan (Balinese mystical practice) not merely as a supernatural power, but as part of a broader spiritual-social system.

One key principle of pengleakan is that one cannot simply harm a target. Instead, the leyak (practitioner of this mystical art) must first provoke emotional reactions in the target, such as hatred, anger, or a desire for revenge, through words or actions.

However, before any attack can occur, there is a spiritual judgment — a weighing of whether the target truly deserves to be harmed. This judgment is believed to take place in the Merajan (Balinese family shrine), or through the will of God or the ancestors.

To reflect this in gameplay, we’ve added a social system where:

• Players can talk to their opponents before combat begins.

• Conversations affect the character’s social value.

• Only the character with higher social standing (through words and actions) can initiate attacks.

• This applies to both the main character and the leyak opponents.

With this system, combat is not just about strength — it’s about ethics, speech, and spiritual balance, reflecting the wisdom of Balinese culture that we strive to share with the world.

5. Player Defense

Players can block attacks from the Leak when it strikes. However, getting too close to the Leak will decrease your Sanity Bar, followed by the Health Bar if your sanity runs out.

6. Speaking

When facing Villains/Leyak, players can boost their bars by conversing with them, as Leaks are humans who use mystical knowledge to transform.

Game difficulty levels, from normal to hard, will adapt to the condition of your bars. Challenge yourself to master the game by maintaining bar balance, making the right decisions at the right time, and achieving victory in an intense inner duel!