Update — December 3, 2025, 5:22 PM:
The Humble Store has reversed its earlier removal and relisted Horses for purchase. The developer, Santa Ragione, told IGN that Humble temporarily delisted the title after media coverage to reassess the game, but after a full review they concluded the content did not warrant removal. The studio said it appreciated Humble’s reconsideration and hopes the other storefronts will revisit their decisions in light of the complete game.

Horses, an unsettling indie horror experience, was due to launch across multiple digital storefronts but encountered pushback from several major platforms. Steam and the Epic Games Store refused to distribute the title, and Humble initially pulled it as well before restoring the listing. The controversy centers around the game’s imagery and a particular scene involving a young child and adult characters presented in a disturbing, nontraditional context.

Santa Ragione co-founder Pietro Righi Riva has described the game’s unsettling conceit: the “horses” are actually human figures wearing horse masks and kept in servitude on a rural property. One scene drew attention because a child character wants to climb onto one of these figures, and the player briefly guides a naked adult woman — portrayed as one of the masked “horses” — while a young girl sits on her shoulders. According to Riva, the interaction is not sexualized in the game’s staging, but the juxtaposition of nudity and a child nearby likely prompted concern during platform reviews.

Still from Horses showing characters at a table

Steam reportedly rejected Horses when it was submitted in 2023, citing content that, in Steam’s judgment, could be interpreted as depicting sexual conduct involving a minor. The studio says it raised the daughter’s age in response and revised the scene so the lines of dialogue and context fit an older character better. Despite these changes, Santa Ragione says Steam has not clarified which element specifically led to their decision.

Character portrait from Horses of a masked woman

The Epic Games Store withdrew its approval shortly before Horses’ planned release. Epic informed the developer that the game violated its Content Guidelines under sections addressing inappropriate content and content that promotes abuse. Epic also indicated that their internal IARC submission resulted in an Adult Only (AO) rating; the store’s policy prohibits titles rated AO from distribution. Epic gave Santa Ragione options: modify and resubmit, or appeal the decision through their developer support channels.

Riva suspects the sudden rejections were influenced by heightened media scrutiny after Steam’s earlier refusal, though Epic has not confirmed that sequence of events. Santa Ragione says an IARC questionnaire they completed internally produced a Mature (M) rating rather than AO, indicating a divergence in assessment between the studio and Epic.

Aside from those storefronts, Horses remains available on itch.io and GOG. The game’s bans appear to have amplified attention: it became one of GOG’s top new sellers after the removals made headlines. Prospective players should be aware the title contains adult and potentially distressing material before seeking it out.

For further reading and source material, see coverage and interviews from IGN and PC Gamer.

Sources: IGN — interview with Santa Ragione, IGN — developer statement, PC Gamer — Humble & GOG coverage