Virginia is an upcoming first person thriller game that is set to be released on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Virginia takes place in a small town with a secret, drawing narrative influence and comparisons to cult television shows like Twin Peaks and The X Files. The Steam page for the game itself compares Virginia’s story to great works of modern Noir, such as Fargo and True Detective. This is definitely a high bar to set for a narrative. Virginia even takes place in the same time period a lot of these works were produced, 1992. It also seems to be drawing on the seemingly insatiable thirst the public has for ‘90s nostalgia. A demo version of Virginia is currently available on Steam. The game is being released by publisher 505 Games.
In Virginia the player takes on the role of graduate FBI Agent Anne Tarver. Anne along with her seasoned partner investigator Maria Halperin have to investigate the seemingly unexplained disappearance of Lucas Fairfax, a boy from the small town Kingdom, Virginia. Once in the town Anne will find herself uncovering hidden agendas and feeling pressure from the people of small town who have been used to being left to their own devices. As the story progresses and the mystery begins to unfold, the list of suspects grows larger and stranger, the player will make decisions that will have permanent and serious repercussions on the lives of these two investigators.
Virginia has a number of features listed on its Steam page. One of which is the game’s editing. Virginia is edited in a way that makes it appear very cinematic. The story is meant to feel dreamlike, it is a journey that the player is taken on with a varied cast of eccentric characters and dramatic moments interspersed throughout. The score for Virginia was recorded live by the Prague Philharmonic and was composed by Lyndon Holland. The soundtrack was recorded at Prague music studio, Smecky Studios where the soundtracks for Lost Highway and Mullholland Dr. were also recorded. The art style is also a big feature for the game, giving a very painterly feeling. The art style is meant to portray the whimsy and mystery that surrounds a lot of small towns in America and their place in the modern mythos of Americana. Virginia is set to be released on all the aforementioned platforms September 22nd. A release trailer for Virginia can be seen below.