While games with linear paths to completion were by far the most prevalent in the early years of gaming and especially in the indie scene, more and more games have given players clear goals to complete and then offer them a world to traverse to get there. This is the main appeal of the recently revealed title Northward, developed and published by Yore and Yonder. As the name suggests, the game will see players go on adventure north, exploring a wide world while on the way.
The game’s reveal trailer establishes the inciting incident immediately, with a fishing trip being interrupted by a falling star. From there, players get a look at some of the different environments that make up the game’s open world. These include a city filled with people and guards, a snowy area that causes characters to shiver, and a ship on the wide ocean. The ship itself is used to follow the path of the star, visiting islands before eventually reaching the goal. The world as shown off contains many magical wonders, including a massive gate for ships, sunken chests, and fish the size of entire boats.
More of the game’s mechanics are shown off in the second half of the trailer, including cooking and digging for treasure. The Steam page delves even further to the treasure, alluding to the mysterious story of the game and how it relates to the ancient civilization of the area. Other features include character customization, recruitable NPCs, and items that can be used as equipment. One of Northward’s most heavily featured aspects is the multiplayer co-op, allowing up to four players to explore the large world together.
While no official release date has been announced for Northward, the reveal trailer has stated that the game will be coming soon to Steam.