2D adventure games have become a rare breed in recent years. While many players are nostalgic for the Sierra games of the past, a mixture of Telltale offerings and 3D role-playing in games such as Mass Effect and Fallout 4 have largely carried on the torch of strong narrative design in games writing. Of course, there’s been some nostalgia for the 2D adventure game style in the past few years. And a new adventure game is coming via Square Enix Collective that plans to return to those roots: ThroughLine Games’ Forgotton Anne.
Developed for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, Forgotton Anne is a “cinematic adventure game combining puzzle platforming with adventure game elements.” The game focuses on Anne, an enforcer in the Forgotton Realm who must deal with a rebellion that could interfere with her ability to enter the human world again.
“Imagine a place where everything that is lost and forgotten goes; old toys, letters, single socks,” the team explained in their official press kit. “The Forgotten Realm is a magical world inhabited by Forgotlings, creatures composed of mislaid objects longing to be remembered again.”
Forgotton Anne was announced at EGX 2016 through Square Enix Collective and unveiled with a story trailer that revealed a bit of its gameplay. Clearly inspired by an anime aesthetic, the game’s world looks gorgeous, fantastical and rich.
Although Forgotton Anne is ThroughLines’ major public debut, their experience with game development is relatively strong. In 2015, their project Look at My Drawing performed well at the Nordic Game Jam, leading to a 200,000 DKK grant. Meanwhile, production for Forgotton Anne began in 2016, with the game’s initial prototyping beginning in 2014. So it’s safe to say their upcoming title comes from a fair amount of experience along the way. Hence Square Enix Collective’s interest in the game, one can surmise.
No official release date for Forgotton Anne has been announced aside from the game’s 2017 window. Expect more information on the title to arrive as 2016 draws to a close.