Glasgow Subway transformed into horror video game by developers

A Glasgow Caledonian University staff member has transformed the city’s subway into the setting of a horror video game.

Thomas Welsh, an assistive technology advisor within the university’s disability team, is the lead developer behind Loop.

The horror-themed video game was created by the five-person studio Box of Greebles.

Loop gets its name from the iconic circular shape of the subway’s inner and outer lines.

Set at a time when the world is ending, players are trapped below the city and unaware of what is happening above ground.

The idea came to Thomas during a trip on the subway with his daughter Evalina.

The game is set within the Glasgow Subway. Thomas Welsh

Thomas said: “We were on the Subway, and I imagined what it would be like if something terrible happened on the surface and we didn’t know because we were too busy eating pickled onion Monster Munch.”

Loop explores themes including gender identity, generational trauma, legacy and lineage.

Set on Christmas Eve 1993, the player is the last driver of the night and tries to leave the underground station only to find themselves locked in.

Thomas and members of the development team wanted the game to be narrative-led and tell stories about people from marginalised backgrounds.

He said: “Glasgow is diverse too, and characters from marginalised backgrounds have some of the best stories to tell.”

The game has progressed from an initial idea to a playable build, with support from the Scottish Game Developers Association (SGDA) Accelerator programme.

Acclaimed game developer and designer Rami Ismail described Thomas as “very inspiring”.

Box of Greebles has now been named a finalist in the Create Change Challenge at Converge 2026, which supports creative, cultural and social-impact projects with commercial potential.

Thomas said the recognition was particularly significant given the challenges currently facing the games industry.

He added: “It gives us validation that we have a good idea, and that a game studio can be founded even in a challenging time for the games industry.

“The recognition, mentoring and, just maybe, financial kickstart will help us get some momentum.”

The team wants to develop Loop into a demo that can be released on Steam and other digital storefronts, enabling them to build a community around the game.