And it’s out… right now!

I do love a good surprise release. Mike Bithell ofThomas Was AloneandVolumefame has announced and launched his team’s latest game,Subsurface Circular, a “graphical twist on the classic text-based adventure.” It’s pitched as a single-sitting game and priced accordingly at $4.79 on Steam.

“A detective stationed on the Subsurface Circular investigates a series of disappearances among the city’s robotic working class,” reads the summary. “Collect words and phrases, then use them in dialogue puzzles to uncover the world’s secrets and determine its future.”

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As you’ll quickly glean from this trailer, the writing and characterization will be what make or break this short but focused experience (and knowing Bithell’s prior work, there’s nothing to worry about there).

“My fear was hype: A hopefully good, polished short game could be ruined if we announced early and set false expectations,”he saidof the surprise launch. “So, would that work? If we just launched a short game, announcing it at the point it goes on sale? Let’s find out in 5 minutes.”

The ghost at the end of the hallway

Picking up the smiley face post-it off the broken mirror

John and Molly sitting on the park bench

Close up shot of Marissa Marcel starring in Ambrosio

Kukrushka sitting in a meadow

Lightkeeper pointing his firearm overlapped against the lighthouse background

Overseer looking over the balcony in opening cutscene of Funeralopolis

Edited image of Super Imposter looking through window in No I’m not a Human demo cutscene with thin man and FEMA inside the house

Looking at the ghost of Jackie inside the lighthouse