Draugen

Developed by Red Thread Games, Draugen is an indie adventure game for the PC. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One version will be released later this year. In Draugen, it’s the year 1923. You play an American investigator named Edward Charles Harden. Harden goes to Norway looking for his missing sister in the village of Graavik. However, that’s easier said than done. The quiet rural village he’s looking for is empty when he gets there, and there’s no sign of his sister. 

As Edward investigates, things grow more complex. Nothing is as it seems. Norway holds many mysteries for Harden. As a result, he begins to ask himself some hard questions. What mysteries lie in the abandoned village? Where is his sister? And what does his young ward Lissie have to do with it? Find out all this and more as you explore the strange, mysterious, and often dark world of the video game Draugen.

Draugen Features

Draugen is a video game rich in suspense, mystery, and drama. In Draugen, you explore the beautifully-realized rural village of Graavik, as seen through Edward Harden’s eyes. Graavik itself is stunning. The fjords and mountains of Norway are a beautiful place to set this video game. A fully-functional weather system also brings the setting to life. Rain, sun, and fog all contribute to the mood of the game. They also show us a bit about Edward’s mental state.

As you explore, you will also uncover the parts of a deep mystery. The game’s dynamic dialogue system reveals a lot about the protagonists, Edward and Lissie. Both are interesting and well-realized characters. However, neither character is reliable. This adds another layer of complexity to an already complex game. The relationship between straight-laced Edward and easygoing Lissie is one of the game’s high points. The game also has full voice acting and motion capture and was made by a veteran team of video game developers. For example, Ragnar Tørnquist, best known for his work on the Dreamfall series of adventure games, wrote Draugen. Indeed, most of the team behind Draugen also worked on the Dreamfall saga, so it has an impressive pedigree.

In Conclusion

Draugen is an intense and narratively satisfying psychological mystery. The relationship between Edward and Lissie is well-written. The dialogue system is dynamic. That’s what you would expect from Red Thread Games. The visuals are also beautiful. Norway’s scenic vistas are on full display in Draugen. Finally, the story itself is dark and deeply interesting. If you enjoy psychological mysteries and thrillers, you will probably get a thrill out of Draugen. To add a litte more depth to this game, a prequel comic book is slated for release in June!