Melbourne-based developer Modern Storyteller and publisher Dear Villagers have announced that their narrative-driven murder mystery game The Forgotten City will launch on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X&S, Xbox One and PC on July 28, 2021. A Nintendo Switch version of the game will launch later in the year.
The Forgotten City is a standalone re-imagining of the acclaimed Skyrim mod that has been downloaded over three million times and was the recipient of a national Writers’ Guild award. The game’s official description is as follows:
Trapped in a secret underground city during the Roman Empire, twenty-three lost souls cling to life. In this precarious utopia, if one person breaks the mysterious Golden Rule, everyone dies. Players must relive the city’s final moments in an endless loop, changing the course of the day with each secret they uncover. Combat is an option, but violence will only get them so far. Only by cleverly exploiting the time loop and making difficult moral choices can they hope to unravel this murderous riddle.
The Forgotten City features:
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An open-world ancient Roman city with historically authentic art, architecture and costumes
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Richly detailed, deeply interactive characters
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Moral dilemmas which have life-and-death consequences
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A gripping, non-linear mystery with multiple endings
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Choose your own gender, origin and backstory
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Multiple ways to problem-solve, including reason, charm, bribery, intimidation, violence, or by cleverly exploiting the time loop
Nick Pearce, founder of Modern Storyteller, says that the team of three hard-working devs is excited to finally get The Forgotten City into players hands after more than four years in development.
“We hope it finds its audience: gamers whose intelligence and time deserve respect, who enjoy the challenge of unravelling a mystery on their own, and who understand that a great story doesn’t need to rely on combat to make hearts race and soar.”
You can view the release date trailer below:
Although I never played the original mod, given the game’s Roman setting, I am keen to check out Modern Storyteller’s expanded version of The Forgotten City next month.
Despite a childhood playing survival horrors, point and clicks and beat ’em ups, these days Zach tries to convince people that Homefront: The Revolution is a good game while pining for a sequel to The Order: 1886 and a live-action Treasure Planet film. Carlton, Burnley FC & SJ Sharks fan. Get around him on Twitter @tightinthejorts
