'Hardcore Detective Horror' - New Game Announcement

The upcoming title "Nowhere" offers a fresh take on Norse mythology, blending realistic detective gameplay with survival horror. Director Luke Dodds reveals that the game's plot involves missing villagers and resurrected Norse gods in a mystical village. While "Nowhere" doesn't have a confirmed release date yet, it is currently available for wishlisting on Steam, allowing interested players to stay updated on the game's progress.

The upcoming survival horror game "Nowhere" combines Norse mythology with a detective story that reveals the fates of the Norse gods following the aftermath of Ragnarok. The game, which comes from indie developer Midnight Forge, is set to release on Steam and claims to blend "realistic detective gameplay" with survival horror.

Norse mythology has been the subject of plenty of video games in the past, with God of War: Ragnarok pitting players against the Nordic pantheon and Valheim transforming the Viking experience into a mystical survival game. With the modern resurgence of interest in Norse mythology and Nordic culture and history, the time seems ripe for a fresh, horror-fueled take on things with a stronger focus on narrative rather than jump scares.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar, "Nowhere" director Luke Dodds spoke about the game, revealing some of the title's plot details and the mechanics players can expect to see when it officially launches on Steam. According to Dodds, the game will see players take on the role of a detective on the hunt for missing villagers in a mystical Nordic village, where they slowly begin to realize that the "Old Gods" survived Ragnarok and have come back to life.

"Nowhere" - A Traditional Horror Experience with Nordic Roots

As it gears up for a yet-unannounced release date, "Nowhere" has seen comparisons to the likes of "Alan Wake 2" in its presentation, featuring a storyline that branches between two parallel worlds the player can explore. However, while "Alan Wake 2" had a slew of Nordic references throughout, "Nowhere" is taking things a step further by placing the setting front and center, with the game's story revolving around the Norse gods and their lives after humans have stopped worshiping them.

While his comments mostly focus on the thematic and narrative elements of "Nowhere," director Luke Dodds also mentions that the game will have somewhat of an open world, allowing players to fully explore the titular village at their discretion, similar to the isolated openness of "Resident Evil Village." As for the game's world design, Dodds took inspiration directly from the mythology the game utilizes for its story, with the village of "Nowhere" drawing from the Norse underworld of Hel for its visual design.

With a focus on detective work as its main storyline, fans may expect something akin to "LA Noire" in terms of how "Nowhere's" story progresses, with the player character being tasked with finding clues and interviewing locals to unveil hidden details. However, the comparison as of now is mostly surface level, and horror fans will have to wait for the game to release on Steam to see what's really going on in "Nowhere."