The makers of Cloudpunk reveal Nivalis, a ‘slice of life simulation in a cyberpunk world’

One of probably the most nice videogame surprises of 2020 was Cloudpunk, a cyberpunk exploration game set in a stunning voxel metropolis. Imagine Blade Runner, besides as an alternative of a cop monitoring down runaway slaves, you are an Uber driver of the longer term. It’s fantastic: The writing, as we famous in our 80% evaluate, is uneven at occasions, however the metropolis feels sprawling and alive. It’s the sort of place you’ll be able to simply cruise aimlessly, letting the sights and sounds wash over you. It’s additionally the setting for developer Ion Lands’ subsequent game, a really totally different sort of life-in-the-cyber-city expertise referred to as Nivalis.

Until now we have solely had a short glimpse at what’s coming in Nivalis, however on the PC Gaming Show right now Ion Lands gave us a correct take a look at what it is all about. 

“We are aiming to create a slice-of-life simulation in a cyberpunk world, which you are an integral part of,” studio head Marko Dieckmann stated. “You start with a single noodle stand and expand to restaurants, bars and nightclubs, making deals, farming your ingredients, fishing down by the docks and experiencing the stories of all the people you meet.”

In some ways, Nivalis appears to be like to be the direct reverse of Cloudpunk. Where Ion Lands’ earlier game centered on flying across the metropolis exploring its peaks and valleys, Nivalis is all about placing down roots, forming relationships, and possibly even discovering love. Of course, it isn’t all happy-go-lucky. The metropolis is a harmful place: Gangs wish to harvest your organs, firms wish to bleed you dry, and the town itself is crumbling, actually, into the ocean. But that is the massive image, and Nivalis is meant to be way more private.

“Most cyberpunk game worlds are very grim,” Dieckmann stated. “We like to explore the day-to-day life in this world. There is more to it than uncovering the next big conspiracy and shooting and hacking your way to the top. There are millions of ordinary people following their ordinary lives. For us that’s an exciting premise and we’ll try to give you a glimpse of what it might be like to live in a futuristic cyberpunk city.”

It appears to be like pretty and sounds nearly tranquil, however I really feel just like the final little bit of the trailer hints at one thing barely extra ominous lurking within the background. “You ever look up at the clouds and wonder what’s up there?” the narrator asks. “Well if you dream big enough, maybe you’ll find out. Maybe we all will.”

It’s attainable that I’m studying an excessive amount of into it or seeing one thing that is not there, however in my expertise when somebody says “Yeah, maybe we all will,” it is by no means about one thing good.

Nivalis does not have a launch date but however is obtainable for wishlisting on Steam, and you’ll sustain with what’s cooking on the official Cloudpunk Discord server.