After six years of development, the impressively illustrated game, Wayward Strand, got a new trailer and release date during the Indie World Showcase.
Lots of cool games were shown during this morning’s Indie World showcase, but Wayward Strand definitely hooked me from it’s impressive art style. While it’s been in the works for a while, players won’t have to wait much longer to play it:
The curious piece, inspired by interactive theatre, centers on 14-year-old Casey, intrepid teenage journalist, as she embarks on her first trip to the flying ship-turned-hospital above a small Australian town in the summer of 1978. There, she has limited time to help the staff, get to know the patients and investigate the mysteries of the ship itself, as multiple storylines play out in real time.
Once aboard the ship, prepare to meet a sizeable cast of characters who go about their lives guided by their own desires, schedules and will, sometimes talking with Casey, and sometimes with each other. Players can choose who Casey will interact with, or not, having her engage directly or eavesdrop on the unsuspecting workers or patients aboard. With over 20,000 lines of recorded voiceover dialogue—rivalling even some of the biggest AAA games on the market—there are a plethora of interesting conversations to be had (or overheard).
Players can follow their curiosity at any given moment. While a single playthrough is a complete experience of one version of the story, the developers note that it can take at least a dozen playthroughs to begin to see the full picture. Wayward Strand covers many complex topics, according to creators, including empathy, intergenerational relationships, care and neglect, as well as exploring the day-to-day lives of older people and care workers.
Wayward Strand hits Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X, and Windows on July 21, 2022.
