Red Candle Games has an intriguing secret within its acclaimed Metroidvania, Nine Sols. This title, which was a favorite from 2024, has recently unveiled a different first-person horror experience nested inside its Steam beta.

Beta Access: If you have Nine Sols installed, you can access this hidden game by entering shanhaiarchive in the beta tab of its properties. However, beware; the game includes jump scares, making it unsuitable for the faint of heart. For the brave, there’s a playthrough available on YouTube by Shadowking.

The alternate game is part of an ARG that started back in September 2025, involving eerie footage titled Dark Legacy of the Sun Tribe. This content encourages players to explore their ancestry related to a myth regarding the ‘four-fingered ones.’

As players unravel this mystery, they come across connections to the Tianhuo virus, a significant plot element in Nine Sols, and participate in the quest to ‘save Yuuki Wu.’ There are hints that the story’s next chapter may delve deeper into this richly woven universe.