Those craving another emotional, narrative-driven game with minimalist visuals may want to pay attention to South of the Circle. This upcoming game by State of Play (the developer, not the PlayStation event) stars a protagonist named Peter who tries to survive the bitter cold of Antarctica while contemplating his life choices. Notably, 11 bit studios, the developer behind This War of Mine, has chosen to publish the title, which only makes sense considering its history with this style of game. South of the Circle made its debut on Apple Arcade late last year, but is set to release on August 3 for PC. You only have to wait a few weeks before giving it a whirl.
In the game, Peter ends up stranded in Antarctica for two reasons: the Cold War and “the pressures of power and his own aspirations.” His past continues to haunt him as he looks around for help. And of course, players will catch glimpses of this inner conflict as they progress. Details of Peter’s past pertain to his life as a Cambridge academic, his developing relationship with a fellow academic named Clara, the promises he made, and the fraught politics of the time.
Choose carefully
Much like other narrative-driven games, South of the Circle expects you to make consequential decisions that impact the direction of the story. Additionally, you can gain further understanding by paying attention to the game’s environmental storytelling. The narrative is also backed up by a cast of prolific actors, including Anton Lesser from Game of Thrones and Michael Fox from Downton Abbey.
Playing through will only take around three to four hours for the average player. So you won’t have to devote too much time to the game once the release date arrives. PC players can get a hold of South of the Circle on Steam and GOG.
