Panache Digital Games has shared a new look at 1666: Amsterdam through the first episode of its Behind the Shadows developer diary series, revealing how the team researched the Dutch capital and offering new details about the game’s exploration systems.
The episode, titled “The Vision: The Real City That Became a Myth,” focuses on the studio’s efforts to recreate Amsterdam while blending historical inspiration with themes of superstition and mystery. According to the developers, the entire team traveled to Amsterdam in 2024 to study the city’s streets, canals, architecture, and atmosphere firsthand rather than relying exclusively on historical documents and online references.
That research also helped shape the game’s approach to exploration. Senior Level Designer Maxime Fortin explains in the video that players will be able to enter houses throughout the city, move across rooftops, and uncover different opportunities depending on how they navigate each neighborhood. The diary also highlights a feline companion that can accompany players during exploration, opening additional routes through windows and other hard-to-reach areas.
The video features commentary from Panache Digital Games co-founders Patrice Désilets and Jean-François Boivin alongside researcher and marketing coordinator Éléa Gadéa and Fortin. The episode was filmed at Montréal’s historic Château Ramezay and serves as the first installment in a planned series focused on the development of the game.
1666: Amsterdam is currently scheduled to launch in Early Access for PC in 2026, with console versions planned for a later date. The title was first revealed by Panache Digital Games as a historical action-adventure project set in 17th-century Amsterdam, placing players in a city shaped by political tensions, religious conflict, and widespread superstition.
Panache says future episodes of Behind the Shadows will continue to explore different aspects of the game’s development.
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