Interesting timing on this thread as I dropped around a dozen hours into UnReal World over the weekend. I've dabbled with it here and there since it landed on Steam back in 2016, but this is the first time I've dug into it proper. Good gravy does it impress.
The elevator pitch is that it's a hardcore survival sim set in iron-age Finland. Complimented with authentic folklore of the period.
The interesting hook is that it first launched back in in 1992 and has been in active development since. The Finnish duo Sami Maaranen & Erkka Lehmus have been at it for close to 30 years now. I guess they're in the Guinness World Records not only for the longest a single title has seen active development, but also they're quoted as making the very first open-world survival game. Crazy.
What I find most attractive about it is the fine level of detail devoted to almost any activity in the game. The level of of minutia that throttles the pacing and gives a genuine appreciation for all the real work that goes into living off the land. Survival activities that might take only a couple/few steps in other games (Minecraft, The Long Dark) have a longer production chain in URW. Felling a tree to start a fire, for example also involves stripping branches, spruce twigs & bark for kindling, cutting the primary log into blocks, the blocks into firewood. It slows down the pace that some may be accustomed to in genre peers but at the same time offers a greater sense of ownership to the character, setting & gameplay loop.
This level of detail can be found throughout the various game systems, from clothing/outfitting, tracking & hunting game, condition management, crafting tools & weapons, building shelters & cabins, etc. etc. There's a lot of gears running under the hood, all feeding into and complimenting one another. I'm reminded of other hyper-detailed sims like Dwarf Fortress and RimWorld and what I find most attractive about them. Only here it's dealing in real-world history and plausible survival skills which can lead to a greater sense of authenticity.
And much like the titles mentioned there's a satisfaction that comes from acclimating to the generous learning curve. It's thankfully mitigated by a thorough 2-part, goal oriented tutorial.
Presentation is expectedly low-fi and folk-art charming. Mixing sprite work with photography. It's an odd combo that winds up feeling inviting & quirky, like you're playing something off the beaten path. It all winds up feeling quite refreshing in contrast to the hyper-realism commonly found in big-budget fare.
The entire production reminds me of that unique feeling of discovering and appreciating a band that few talk about. Like you have this secret discovery in your pocket. It may not be for
some most but man does it fire my imagination.
You can find the game on Steam but there's also a FREE up to date, complete build available on the official website for those who might be curious.
