A groundbreaking concept
At DigixArt, we’re always looking for new, innovative, and quirky ways to tell non-linear stories, in our “choices matter” narrative games.
Our previous game, Road 96, was a procedural road trip. Our new game, Tides of Tomorrow, is a post-apocalyptic, plasticpunk adventure where other players’ choices directly influence your story.
We call this new gameplay feature “Story‑Link.” Basically, you follow the Story-Link of someone who played before you (a friend, a streamer, or a stranger – maybe one of us devs here at DigixArt). Their decisions have left marks on the game-world and you’ll have to deal with the consequences of their choices. Then, as you play, your own decisions will shape the story for future players.
The core theme of the game is: “What will you leave behind?” We want players to reflect on how their actions affect those who come after them, which ties into the broader question of “What world do we leave behind for future generations?”
While many players are curious and excited about this concept, we’ve also heard some people say, “That’s nice and all, but do my choices still matter to my story?” – and boy, yes, they do.
A collaborative journey
Balancing how much previous players’ choices should impact your experience versus how much control you have over your own story was one of the toughest challenges during development. We didn’t want players to feel robbed of their own adventure.
We struck that balance inside Story-Link, ensuring previous players’ actions have consequences on a level‑by‑level basis. Someone else explored each island before you. Through their actions, they changed the “narrative state” of what’s happening “right now” in that place. Maybe they made some friends, maybe they made some enemies, maybe they helped someone, maybe they caused trouble…
In the end, however; you still go through your own overarching story. The Story‑Link strongly shapes your journey, but you remain in control of your destination.
What’s fascinating about this feature is that, depending on the version of each level you experience, you can end up with very different perspectives on characters and events. A character might become one of your trusted allies, while that same character is perceived as a villain by other players. This is especially true for our more “grey” characters, like Nyx or Efod.
Shaping your own fate
Of course, the narrative involves many “big moral choices.” We diabolically designed them so that each one comes with a real dilemma – there’s never a single “right” answer. These decisions have a strong influence on the next part of your story, and some of them can also have major consequences for future players.
For example, deciding to steal a key artifact from the Mystic means it won’t be there anymore for the next players – and they’ll have to deal with the fallout of its disappearance.
On top of that, many smaller decisions ripple through the experience and come back in the final acts of the game. Even things that don’t feel “narrative,” like resource management, matter. One of the main themes of the story is resource scarcity during a time of crisis. Choosing whether to share medicine with an NPC or keep it for yourself can have consequences later on.
The game also features a trait system. These are personality traits like Survivalist, Cooperative, or Troublemaker, which evolve based on your actions and choices. This gives long‑term weight to nearly every decision – even the smallest ones. These traits unlock late‑game opportunities, steer you toward different endings, and help you better understand the personality of the players you’re following.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but the final act of the game is where everything comes together. All the choices you’ve made along the way take on extra importance – determining who’s still alive, which communities stand with you, and ultimately the kind of solution you’ll use to save the planet… or doom it forever. What will you be willing to sacrifice?
Tides of Tomorrow will be out on Xbox April 22. We hope to see you on the Tides!
Tides of Tomorrow
THQ Nordic GmbH
In a flooded world struggling to survive, you embark on a singleplayer-mission – yet you’ll never be alone. You’ll constantly feel the presence of other Tidewalkers through the echoes of those that came before you.
The “Online Story-Link” feature allows you to feel the impact of previous players’ choices – and leave your own lasting mark for future players. Players start by selecting the Story-Link of a friend, favorite streamer, DigixArt team member, or stranger to follow on a mission to reconstruct or further deconstruct a world suffering from a disease that is ravaging the ocean planet.
Shape Every Player’s Future
As a Tidewalker, you will explore a strange world that will look, feel, and react differently depending on the Story-Link you choose. As a deadly disease called Plastemia threatens to kill all living things, you must steel yourself to face the numerous challenges of a world on the brink of collapse.
Meet a wide range of characters and opposing factions: ruthless Marauders who control medicine and trade, everyday survivors known as Reclaimers, and the Mystics – a mysterious group who worship the past.
Features:
– Experience the consequences of other players’ decisions while shaping the experience of future Tidewalkers.
– Levels, NPCs and narrative choices can be totally different depending on the actions of other Tidewalkers.
– Reveal the “echoes” of previous players – ghosts that show Tidewalkers’ actions and choices.
– Sail through uncertain waters, gathering resources to improve your chances of survival.
– Explore diverse floating platforms set amongst unique landscapes.
– Select different Story-Links to experience how another Tidewalker’s choices can influence your playthrough experience.
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