Don’t Nod has announced a new title, the narrative adventure game Harmony: The Fall of Reverie. Don’t Nod, which is famous for the graphic adventure series Life is Strange, looks to play to its strengths with the new IP.
The Life is Strange series is very narrative focused, taking inspirations from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and also includes aspects of dream-like magic abilities that would fit into a classic episode of The X-Files. Just like Twin Peaks, the series relies a lot on the interpersonal relationships and how communities are linked together. Because of this, the series also employs a heavy emphasis on player choice. Other games in the studio’s catalog match this style, with titles such as Vampyr and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden straying the furthest from the studio’s formula. Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is set to stick closer to the “choices matter” style of Life is Strange.
Announced via the Nintendo Direct showcase as well as Don’t Nod’s official YouTube channel and website, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie boasts amazing 2D art as well as music from Lena Raine, the composer for Celeste. The art style is somewhat reminiscent of Supergiant Games titles like Pyre or Hades. Set between the daily life of a Mediterranean city and the magical realm of Reverie, a land where deities live, the player will take the role of a clairvoyant called Polly and will ultimately need to decide the fate of humanity. Launching in June this year, the game is set to have branching paths and multiple endings like Beacon Pines, a narrative game by Hiding Spot Games.
While this isn’t the game set in the 90s Don’t Nod teased recently, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie looks to play to Don’t Nod’s greatest strengths of narrative choice, a strong female lead, brilliant pacing, and a step into the realm of magic. In fact, instead of being set in the nostalgic recent-past, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie appears to be set in the near-future, replete with an abundance of security cameras, holographic headsets, and a shady “mega-corporation” making for a semi-dystopian setting. While these tropes could be seen as somewhat cliche, it makes for a good jumping off point before diving into the more mystical journey that sees players communicate with “the Aspirations of Humanity.”
As AAA games typically continue toward the expansive, blockbuster experience, it's good to see smaller studios and indies aim for a more niche and personal experience. With titles such as A Space For The Unbound and the upcoming Harmony: The Fall of Reverie, players can explore a more emotionally driven world, paced more like a thought-provoking novel rather than an explosive movie. Whether the clairvoyant journey in Harmony: The Fall of Reverie matches Don’t Nod’s flagship franchise Life is Strange is yet to be seen, but will be revealed to players this June.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is coming to PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S this June.