Alongside the recent confirmation of a second season for Made in Abyss, Spike Chunsoft also announced that the anime will be getting a video game adaptation titled Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness. Set to be released on PS4, PC, and Switch, the game will feature a completely original adventure overseen by series creator Akihito Tsukushi himself.
While little information has been revealed so far, it seems that Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness will be a 3D ARPG that centers around a nameless Cave Raider in the Abyss. Given the amount of detail involved with the series' worldbuilding, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness has a lot of potential if it emphasizes the exploration elements from the original anime.
The Concept of Made in Abyss
Made in Abyss is one of the rare concepts in anime that might actually function better in video game form. The original anime centers around an orphaned girl named Riko who lives in a town surrounded by a giant hole called the Abyss. With its hidden treasures of ancient civilizations, the Abyss attracts delvers called Cave Raiders who undertake dangerous expeditions to retrieve the riches. Upon ascending back up, Cave Raiders are afflicted with a phenomenon called the "Curse of the Abyss" which can be potentially fatal and is a reason why the deepest delvers never return. Riko decides to journey into the Abyss alongside a robot named Reg to search for her missing mother.
The basic premise of Made in Abyss holds a lot of potential for a video game adaptation. Although the anime series deceptively starts out as a simple adventure, it slowly evolves with elements of sci-fi and Lovecraftian horror. Although very little of the game has been shown so far, it's unclear what direction the game will go beyond being a 3D ARPG. The screenshots seem to indicate a number of survival mechanics including water, sleep, and curse level alongside a compass and depth tracker. Riko seems to have the ability to use weapons although it's difficult to tell how involved the combat is given that the original anime was more about survival.
The Potential to Branch Out
Perhaps the most exciting prospect of a Made in Abyss game is just how well-suited the premise is for a video game adaptation. Beyond exploration elements of a standard ARPG, elements such as the curse could be implemented as a roguelike mechanic while the gigantic monsters could introduce survival mechanics. Furthermore, it seems that the game will be aiming for a CERO Z or 18+ rating in Japan. While this might seem obvious from the source material, it nonetheless gives the Made in Abyss game more freedom to explore the darker aspects of the series.
Regardless of the type of game it turns out to be, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness should aim to emphasize exploration like the original anime series. Much of the fascination with the series stems from its details in worldbuilding and the different environments that Riko and Reg encounter on their journey. Ensuring that the Abyss has a grand scale would be fulfilling for players who love the discovery element of the series and appeal to fans of dungeon crawlers like Etrian Odyssey. Although the Made in Abyss game won't be releasing until 2022, the series itself holds plenty of potential in a video game adaptation.
Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling Into Darkness releases in 2022 for the PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.