WILL: Follow The Light – New Unreal Engine 5 Narrative Adventure Sets Sail at Gamescom 2024
Set sail on stormy seas and explore the rugged Nordic coast in an original narrative adventure from TomorrowHead Studio, coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2025
SPOKANE, Wash. – Aug. 21, 2024 – International independent game developer TomorrowHead Studio has revealed the first trailer for its debut game, WILL: Follow The Light, during the Future Games Show. This realistic, single-player, first-person journey through the harsh northern latitudes is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2025.
About TomorrowHead Studio
Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, TomorrowHead Studio is a new international game development company inspired by the wanderlust of travel and exploration. Their mission is to send players on journeys of discovery, exploring places and worlds they’ve never been to before.
Game Overview
WILL: Follow The Light is a narrative adventure that takes players on a journey across stormy seas and rugged Nordic shores. Players will helm a sailing yacht, piloted with realistic controls developed in collaboration with arctic voyagers, navigating the cold and hostile environments of far-northern seas.
Story and Gameplay
Players assume the role of Will, a fearless man who grew up on the sea, as he ventures north in search of his missing son. The story explores the relationship between father and son, taking players on an emotional rollercoaster through wild thunderstorms, the ringing silence of loneliness, and a tale about the importance of caring for loved ones.
Challenges and Features
Players will face challenges both at sea and on land. As they progress, they will solve puzzles rooted in real life, chart their path using an authentic weather station and lifelike navigation system, and traverse snowy trails by dog sled in search of answers.
Developer Insights
“We have been working together on WILL for more than two years, so today’s announcement is an exciting moment for our team,” said Roman Novikov, Founder and Game Director at TomorrowHead Studio. “At TomorrowHead, we are inspired by some of the best games in the genre and what they do so well – Firewatch’s feeling of escape and loneliness… Alan Wake’s visuals and atmosphere – and we have invested deeply in art and technology to bring players a narrative adventure that will see players exploring the world in a whole new way. We’re looking forward to revealing more later this year.”
Initial Impressions
My initial thoughts on this game are that it’s a visually stunning headscratcher. It feels like it could be horror-based, but it’s not. I was expecting something to jump out at the protagonist, but it never happened. Instead, the goal is to reunite with your family, taking on the elements rather than arming yourself. This approach opens the door to players who enjoy great-looking games without combat, similar to fans of Myst.
While I would have loved to see some beasts to beware of, I understand the direction. As long as you know you’re preparing for a story-rich adventure puzzle game, your expectations will be realistic. Overall, it looks like an interesting game and I think it will be a cool experience. Game on!
