The Sinking City is a third person action investigation game, which takes place in a Lovecraftian version of the American Roaring Twenties. It tells the story of a private detective (with a few skeletons in his closet), who finds himself in the city of Oakmont, Massachussets, in the 1920s United States. Our hero is one of the newcomers who keep traveling to the city, even though it has been devastated by a terrible disaster. A relentless flood of clearly supernatural origins has buried most of Oakmont in its depths, and awakened frightening monsters. Thousands have died in the calamity, and the rest are trying to do everything they can to survive. The detective is driven by his desire to get to the bottom of what’s happening, because he believes his future depends on the fate of the city.
The three key elements that define The Sinking City are open world, investigation and Lovecraft. Oakmont is fully open for you to explore, though it will often require some effort to get to where you want. As we said the city is flooded, so you will have to use boats to traverse the murky waters. Oakmont is a mix of two opposing in our opinion styles. The iconic Roaring Twenties in our game are exactly as you know it: consumerism, jazz, prohibition and racial tensions. On the other hand, the world is heavily inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, which adds layers of decay, desolation and, of course, fear of the unknown. Our game is not an official rendition of a specific Lovecraft novel, but we not only draw inspiration from him, but also expand his universe. Which means Oakmont exists in his world, and characters and events he created are canon for us. Some of them are even in The Sinking City, like hybrids, for example.
With The Sinking City we are going for a different gameplay angle than our Sherlock Holmes series, aiming for around 30 hours of playtime. The game features main quest and side quests, as well as moral choice and different endings. Our detective mostly relies on his wits and intuition to solve crimes and track down suspects, as well as his weapons to defend himself from monsters. Worth knowing, finding a seemingly optional clue may change the course of your investigation, leading to a completely different outcome. We want to have as little hand holding in the game as possible, avoiding giving the player direct instructions and objectives. We believe open world environment fits this mechanic perfectly, as a place where gamers can experiment with their findings and test their assumptions.
Open World
Enter a seaside Oakmont, where every nook and cranny can be explored… at your own risk. With seven unique districts with their own mood and architecture, the world of The Sinking City is one seamless ecosystem for you to discover.
Investigation
Don’t expect the game to hold your hand when you conduct your investigations. Make your own conclusions as you find clues and question witnesses. Don’t be afraid to experiment, failure is part of the experience.
Lovecraft
Dive into the world, which exists in the universe H.P. Lovecraft and his followers have created. The Sinking City is built on the underlying concepts of the famous American horror writer: cosmic fear, fatalism and futility of our efforts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEy2rUEC1gM
Fact Sheet
Developer
Frogwares Studio
Created in 2000, Frogwares is an independent gamedev studio, based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Thanks to the work of a talented team of around 80 artists and programmers, our games are available for major platforms, including Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC. Press and fans best know us for the Sherlock Holmes detective series, which has sold more than 7 million units worldwide. Striving to improve as developers and artists, we are currently working on our
biggest project up to date – an open-world Lovecraftian adventure, The Sinking City.
Publisher
Bigben is a major video game publisher, designer and distributor of mobile phone and gaming accessories as well as audio products. The group, recognised for its innovation and creativity, aspires to become a European leader in each of the sectors it is active in.
Platforms
The Sinking City will be released on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
Release Date
March 21, 2019
Press Mentions
“I had a blast with The Sinking City, and I’ll be back for more sleuthing just as soon as it’s out.”
PCGamer
“…the setting, investigation tools, and lure of a Lovecraftian open world make The Sinking City one worth keeping an eye on.”
Game Informer
“This Lovecraftian open world horror game looks incredible!”
Media Assets
https://youtu.be/__zJKpkOHHE
Screenshots
In-game footage, full of Lovecraftian spirit.
Videos and B-rolls
Experience the adventure, spread the word.
Concept Art
Get familiar with unspeakable horrors you’re about to encounter.