I’ve lived a thousand digital lives. I’ve toppled civilizations in Dragon Age; survived a rat-infested France in Plague Story. I’ve popped heads as Widowmaker in Overwatch, and gritted my tooth via extra League of Legends video games than I can depend. I think about myself to be a fairly competent gamer: I do know what makes a strong construct, and I perceive the trivia of min-maxing. But, in Neverway, I used to be killed by a ladybug. Not as soon as, however twice. It was, at the least, a simulated ladybug, however then once more, maybe that simply provides some salt to the wound.
As soon as upon a time, I in contrast Neverway to Stardew Valley, and at first look, you would be forgiven for that. Buying and selling out vibrant colours for muted purples, greens, and browns, on paper Neverway appears and seems like a Lovecraftian model of ConcernedApe’s iconic life sport, with farms to are inclined to, villagers to romance, and a few fight as well. However, having skilled it firsthand, Coldblood Inc.’s debut is a lot greater than ‘one more sport like Stardew Valley.’ As a substitute, it is a woeful story of self-reflection, psychological sickness, and non secular rebirth, with a story that is equal components relatable and fantastical, and an environment that oozes horror. It is essentially the most unsettled I’ve felt enjoying a sport in an extended, very long time.
My journey begins within the massive metropolis, the place our protagonist, Fiona, seems to have been fired from her job. Whereas she actually fulfils the ‘gloomy emo lady’ stereotype, as you power your self away from bed and into some recent(ish) garments, it rapidly turns into obvious that Fiona is manically depressed. She trudges out to gather her belongings, congratulating herself for taking out the trash and being a “purposeful human being.” Each interplay is hostile: from the receptionist in her former office to the barista exterior, there is a suffocating sense of weight.
It would be straightforward to categorize Fiona as merely being the ‘moody, edgy protagonist,’ however as somebody who’s handled melancholy, I noticed a little bit little bit of myself in her. The wrestle to go exterior; the paranoia that each social state of affairs will go bitter; pushing folks away as a result of it is simply simpler. As Fiona plops down on a pixel subway chair, considering what’s subsequent, dreaming of that postcard of that island far, far-off, Neverway succeeded in making me really feel one thing uncooked.
After which issues began to get bizarre.
Neverway sits firmly within the rising ‘cozy horror sport’ class that we have seen seem over the previous yr or so – I would place the likes of Cult of the Lamb, Cabernet, and even perhaps the extremely anticipated Witchbrook in there. The place it diverges from cutesy mages and smiling pumpkins, nevertheless, is in its storytelling. Because the subway lights flicker, we see ghosts (or ‘Misplaces’) sitting subsequent to the carriage’s solely different patron. Ominously, she asks in the event that they’re seen to Fiona too, earlier than darting off to one of many different automobiles, prompting a sport of cat and mouse. As Fiona travels, the world round her distorts and falls aside; the sequence ends along with her fellow traveler launching herself into what seems to be an abyss. After which, all the things rights itself: nothing to see right here.
That eeriness transcends each a part of Neverway; it is nonetheless there once you flee the town and head to your new island paradise (which I referred to as Bahumia, in honor of Not One other D&D Podcast). You are greeted by flickering streetlamps, outfitted with plaques that warn of an impending darkness. An iron door and a guard are blocking your entry. Then, there’s that weird-looking science lab. As you crash into mattress, nonetheless absolutely clothed and actively risking a foul evening’s sleep, the lights exit and the evening falls. There is a deafening silence; the darkness has come.
Whereas the mysterious island is the place the core of the motion takes place, on this specific demo I spent most of my time inside a simulation on Fiona’s PC – Coldblood’s protecting its secrets and techniques near its chest. You full varied duties as instructed by your in-game information, Fang, with the last word purpose of constructing a bridge again to the true world. As you progress, nevertheless, the simulation begins to interrupt: purple error textual content sparkles throughout the display; skeletal figures start to seem at nighttime. The music modifications, extra ominous and faster-paced. There’s that urgency to hurry to the exit, that overwhelming worry that one thing is mistaken.
The place Stardew Valley presents the proper residence away from residence, which is, in flip, the important thing to its international success, Neverway hits you with one thing completely totally different. Its eldritch themes and crumbs of story are simply as engaging as Stardew’s boundless freedom and fancifulness. It is the primary new tackle the style that is intrigued me to the identical degree. If Stardew is the glowing outer layer, Neverway is the grungy cousin that lurks beneath the floor, aching to claw its approach out.
Thematically, then, Neverway is not simply one other Stardew clone regardless of its preliminary look, but it surely’s additionally comparatively combat-centric. Your complete simulation sequence revolves round studying the sport’s assault methods, with a well-timed dodge usually being the distinction between life and a painful, ladybug-induced demise. Fiona’s well being bar is not infinite, neither is her stamina, and her actions require a superb quantity of coordination. Hacking and slashing will not get you wherever, particularly with denser mobs.
As you progress, you may add totally different powers to your roster by bonding together with your new residence’s varied inhabitants. On this specific occasion, I assist one of many characters water a digital plant by constructing a watering can. This ranges up my business and scavenging expertise, whereas concurrently incomes me Ghost Sprint, which leaves a spectral model of Fiona behind that may assault enemies. I think about that, as you degree up, you’ll create totally different combos with each your skills and objects.
Throughout my quick playthrough, I spotted you could haulyour foes off of cliffs utilizing your Hookshot grapple gun (want I would identified that forward of the ladybug battle), and a cleverly-timed Ghost Sprint might simply wipe out a slew of enemies. Whereas, visually, the pixel aesthetic might give the impression that fight is straightforward, there is a degree of fluidity, reactivity, and depth that makes Neverway really feel extra like a top-down motion RPG than a easy farming sim.
It’d even be remiss to not shout out the sport’s soundtrack. Created by Disasterpiece (of Hyper Gentle Drifter and Fez fame), the music reacts completely to the world round it. It is moody when it must be; upbeat and digital when fight kicks off inside your PC. It does not simply add to the ambiance, it’s the ambiance; it brings Fiona’s journey to life, with splashes of grunge and theremin-esque beeping. If Coldblood Inc. releases any merch for Neverway, it had higher be a vinyl.
Neverway is ready to launch in 2026. It is shot to the highest of my ‘most-anticipated video games’ listing, maybe even beating out Fable. You’ll be able to wishlist it and check out its Prologue demo proper right here, however keep in mind, “pay your debt in any respect prices.” I am unsure what meaning simply but, however by the eldritch gods, I’ll discover out.
