When Nick Pearce set out to make a murder mystery mod inside Skyrim, he never imagined that it would become so wildly popular, let alone its own video game. But years later, after working in partnership with publisher Dear Villagers, Pierce’s indie studio Modern Storyteller is releasing The Forgotten City, a narrative-driven historical thriller based on the award-winning Skyrim mod of the same name. The game comes out today on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, with a Nintendo Switch port scheduled for later this year.

The Forgotten City mod was originally released in 2015 on Skyrim and has since racked up multiple awards, including an Australian Writer’s Guild award in 2016. The mod effectively turned the Skyrim experience into a murder mystery, with the player acting as detective to uncover the truth behind what occurred in an ancient underground city. In particular, The Forgotten City was praised for its powerful storytelling, which was enhanced by its open puzzle solutions, time loop dynamic, and multiple endings.

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The new standalone game has the same premise as the mod but transports players into an entirely new setting. Instead of a dwarven ruin, players are trapped in an underground city during the Roman Empire. Committed to delivering a game as narratively compelling as the original, The Forgotten City’s development team has not only built upon the critically acclaimed storytelling elements of the mod but worked with two historical consultants in order to develop historically accurate depictions of the art, architecture, clothing, and customs of the ancient empire.

Street in Forgotten City in ancient Rome
via Niche Gamer
https://nichegamer.com/2020/06/16/the-forgotten-city-trailer-gameplay-walkthrough/

Players can expect a similar experience to the Skyrim mod but with significant improvements in animation, gameplay mechanics, and narrative elements. The Forgotten City features a script that is twice as long, rich new interactive characters and quests, and a whole new set of possible endings. Additional aspects of the new game include the ability to choose your own gender, origin, and backstory, and the option to problem-solve in multiple different ways, including reason, charm, bribery, intimidation, violence, or by exploiting the time loop.

From the looks of it, Modern Storyteller has used every resource at its disposal to deliver a game that not only elevates the original mod but is a clever, innovative, and engaging game in its own right. As the end result of such an inspiring story, it’s difficult not to root for The Forgotten City’s success.

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