Games that are independently developed have the rare opportunity to experiment and meld genres or gameplay, with many wearing their inspirations on their sleeve with respect to larger household franchises. Souls-like games such as The Surge, for example, typically follow From Software's design blueprint while inserting new concepts or themes.
But there are also indie games that completely dissociate from common inspirational standards to create an experience that is truly unique, even if certain gameplay characteristics have been seen before. Recently, an ex-Bethesda developer has counted down the hours until the announcement of their solo indie game, The Axis Unseen, which far surpasses any beholden genre or label aside from the one they have given it.
Now, The Axis Unseen has officially been announced by solo developer Nate Purkeypile with a gameplay trailer. Purkeypile comes from the famed Bethesda Softworks as a world artist on Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, as well as a lead artist on Fallout 76. Purkeypile's efforts lately, however, have resulted in the indie title The Axis Unseen, described bizarrely as a "Heavy Metal Open World Horror Hunting game." But the game's announcement trailer fits the bill and generates an eerie atmosphere throughout.
The Axis Unseen's gameplay appears most comparable to outdoors survival games such as The Forest, perhaps, but with a unique flourish in its artistic design that challenges any restrictive genre classification. Players hunt with an upgradeable bow-and-arrow during the day and, with mystical abilities harnessed from deceased folklore creatures, they can access heightened senses to enhance their hunting prowess. Gameplay in the announcement trailer demonstrates these actions, as well as a feature for looking at how many arrow reserves are left in the player's quiver.
Hunting with a first-person-perspective does seem to be the primary gameplay loop, but The Axis Unseen's subtly fantastical environments help it stand apart from other games of the like. One snowy, mountainous environment with a large snake and bird sculpture evokes the imagery of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, which Purkeypile also worked on. Clifford Meyer's original heavy metal soundtrack permeates the announcement trailer and adds atmosphere to The Axis Unseen, where players must seek shelter at night in order to survive.
The Axis Unseen is cheekily scheduled to release "When the Axis aligns," so it may be a while yet before it eventually releases. Until then, fans may look forward to future news about the project.
The Axis Unseen is currently in development for PC.
Source: Steam, Epic Games Store