Hey! This post is the first of the Sam's Picks series, where we'll be looking at some of the games that caught my eye.
Today we'll be talking about Gloomwood, an upcoming retro-inspired immersive sim by New Blood Interactive, currently in Early Access.
Immersive Sim?
Before we dive into the game itself, let's talk about the genre: immersive sims, much like RPGs, are difficult to strictly define.
The most agreed-on characteristics that define an immersive sim are:
Player choice and freedom
The player is given a wide range of tools and abilities to solve puzzles, traverse the world and tackle encounters, and the game world reacts to their choices.
You can sneak past enemies, unlocking the door to the next area with a lockpick or by hacking the security system, or just go in guns blazing.
You can choose to spare or kill NPCs, and the story will change accordingly.
You can often roleplay in dialogues, with different outcomes based on your choices.
Interconnected levels
Levels are designed to be explored and revisited, with multiple paths and secrets to discover: backtracking is not only encouraged but often necessary.
You may unlock shortcuts, find hidden tools or weapons, or discover new ways to approach a situation.
Systemic gameplay
Immersive sims are built on a complex system of interconnected mechanics, with emergent gameplay: the player can exploit the environment and the AI to their advantage.
Traps and ambushes can be set up, luring unsuspecting enemies into environmental hazards to gain the upper hand in combat.
The game world is much more interactive than in other genres, with physics-based puzzles and environmental storytelling.
NPCs have schedules, routines, and relationships.
Fire can spread to flammable objects, water can short-circuit electronics, and so on.
System Shock, Deus Ex and Prey (2017) are some of the most famous examples.
Back to the Future
Being complex and often challenging both to develop and to play, immersive sims are a niche genre, but they have a dedicated fanbase: me included.
The vast majority of "pure" immersive sims have been developed in the late '90s and early '00s, with the genre slowly fading away in favor of more streamlined and accessible experiences.
Gloomwood is a love letter to the classics of the genre, with modern, quality-of-life improvements nested in a retro aesthetic.
The game is set in a dark and oppressive Victorian-inspired city, its surrounding area and the underground depths where the cult followers of an evil Countess have discovered the remains of an ancient civilization.
You are a doctor who has been kidnapped by the cult to be brought to the Countess for unknown reasons.
After you manage to escape your cell, you'll have to find a way to navigate the city, uncover its mysteries and escape, bringing down the Countess and her followers while you are at it.
Thief with Guns
The gameplay is stealth focused, with some survival horror elements: you'll have to manage your resources, avoid combat when possible, and use the environment to your advantage while sneaking past the Huntsmen that patrol the streets: a misterious disease is spreading, turning people into bloodthirsty beasts.
To keep you out of trouble, you'll have to move in the dark: the game features a light and sound system, with different surfaces producing different levels of noise, and light sources casting very defined shadows (thanks to Gloomwood's early 00s aesthetic) that you can hide in.
The Huntsmen are sick, coughing and wheezing from time to time, giving you an hint of their position when you can't see them.
The game has no HUD, all the information you need is displayed in the game world in very ingenious ways:
The inventory is a physical suitcase that can't be opened in tight spaces: items can be placed in the game world or dragged inside the case.
Fired and live ammo can be checked manually, with the player character inspecting the magazine or the chamber to see how many bullets are left.
The ring on the doctor's thumb shines when you are out in the open, giving you a visual cue to stay in the shadows.
The light rays that come from the Huntsmen's masks show their current alert level, turning yellow when they are investigating and red when they spot you.
A LOT of Possibilities
A beast is looking for you? Throw some food in a corner to distract it.
A shotgun is locked behind a glass case? Pickpocket the key from the guard's belt, or just smash the case, but be ready to run.
You made some noise and now enemies are coming to get you? Hide in a closet or just put some heavy crates in front of the door.
The area is too bright? Snuff out the candles, or just smash the lightbulbs.
Can't reach a button? Rubber bolts can be used to activate switches from a distance.
When all else fails, you can always use your trusty revolver or shotgun. To me it's incredible how satisfying the gunplay feels: the weapons are loud, powerful, and heavy, but that also makes them slow to reload and scarce.
More is Coming
Gloomwood is currently in Early Access with a solid ~15 hours of gameplay, but the developers are very active and judging by the game's premises I'm sure the full experience will get us at least 40 hours of content.
I'm very excited to see where this game will go, and I'm sure it will be a must-play for fans of the genre, a real classic: try it and share it with your friends!
Until next time, happy gaming!