Summary
The upcoming survival horror gameNowherecombines Norse mythology with a detective story that reveals the fates of the Norse gods following the aftermath of Ragnarok. The game, which comes from indie developer Midnight Forge, is set to release onSteamand claims to blend “realistic detective gameplay” with survival horror.
Norse mythology has been the subject of plenty of video games in the past, withGod of War: Ragnarokpitting players against the Nordic pantheon andValheimtransforming the Viking experience into a mystical survival game. With the modern resurgence of interest in Norse mythology and Nordic culture and history, the time seems ripe for a fresh, horror-fueled take on things with a stronger focus on narrative rather than jump scares.
Ina recent interview with GamesRadar,Nowheredirector Luke Dodds spoke about the game, revealing some of the title’s plot details and the mechanics players can expect to see when it officially launches onSteam. According to Dodds, the game will see players take on the role of a detective on the hunt for missing villagers in a mystical Nordic village, where they slowly begin to realize that the “Old Gods” survived Ragnarok and have come back to life.
Nowhere Is A Traditional Horror Experience With Nordic Roots
As it gears up for a yet-unannounced release date,Nowherehas seen comparisons to the likes ofAlan Wake 2in its presentation, featuring a storyline that branches between two parallel worlds the player can explore. However, whileAlan Wake 2had a slew of Nordic references throughout,Nowhereis taking things a step further by placing the setting front and center, with the game’s story revolving around the Norse gods and their lives after humans have stopped worshiping them.
While his comments mostly focus on the thematic and narrative elements ofNowhere,Dodds also mentions that the game will have somewhat of an open world, allowing players to fully explore the titular village at their discretion, similar tothe isolated openness ofResident Evil Village. As for the game’s world design, Dodds took inspiration directly from the mythology the game utilizes for its story, with the village of Nowhere drawing from the Norse underworld of Hel for its visual design.
With a focus on detective work as its main storyline, fans may expectsomething akin toLA Noirein terms of howNowhere’s story progresses, with the player character being tasked with finding clues and interviewing locals to unveil hidden details. However, the comparison as of now is mostly surface level, and horror fans will have to wait for the game to release on Steam to see what’s really going on inNowhere.
