Kyle Banks, the solo Scottish developer behind the critically acclaimed Highland adventure Farewell North, has officially announced his latest project: Donut Panic.
Available to wishlist on Steam, the title represents a stark tonal departure for the Edinburgh-based developer. While his previous work focused on an emotional, atmospheric journey through the highlands and islands, Donut Panic plunges players into the high-pressure world of a dingy, late-night cafe where the customers – and the pastries – are not always what they seem.
A Recipe… for Terror
Donut Panic is described as an “anomaly horror game with a cooking sim twist”. Players must manage the daily (and nightly) grind of an all-night cafe, serving a variety of eccentric customers. However, from time to time, your nightshift is disrupted by unsettling anomalies and supernatural occurrences that require a keen eye and steady nerves to navigate.
The gameplay blends the frantic multitasking of a traditional restaurant sim with the unsettling horror of a late night at the RR Diner in Twin Peaks. Players must correctly identify and manage strange events while ensuring the “open” sign stays lit and the customers remain satisfied – or alive – or real.
From Emotional Journeys to Late Night Frights
The transition from the serene landscapes of Farewell North to the claustrophobic, neon-lit interior of a pokey wee sandwich shop highlights the versatility of the Scottish independent scene.
Featuring:
- Master your pâtissier skills and keep customers happy
- Run for your panic room when the hallucinations start
- Unlock new recipes and accessorise your panic room
- Survive each night or remain stuck in the loop forever
- Explore the diner and uncover the secrets behind your hauntings to influence how your story ends
Supporting Solo Success
The release of Donut Panic provides another high-profile success story for solo entrepreneurship in the Scottish games sector. The project aligns with the core ambitions of the Scottish Games Action Plan, which seeks to highlight the commercial viability of solo-led studios and ensure that developers have the structural support needed to ship multiple, diverse titles.
By successfully launching two very different titles in quick succession, Kyle demonstrates the resilience and technical agility that the national games action plan aims to foster across the ecosystem. His work continues to prove that developers working in Scotland can reach a global audience by blending unique mechanical hooks with high-quality production values – all with a twist of good old-fashioned nightmare fuel.
Donut Panic is available to wishlist on Steam.
Follow the developer: Kyle Banks on X.