Chornozem Interactive is developing an exploration game, Echo of Prypiat, which will take players into the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The studio recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the game's development, aiming to collect $6,000.
The developers describe Echo of Prypiat as an immersive walking simulator that plunges players into the atmosphere of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. They aim to provide players with a sense of the abandoned area and convey the horrors and fears of the people who remained there. Gameplay-wise, the project will resemble Firewatch.
The game's story revolves around Canadian journalist Miller, who arrives in Pripyat seeking inspiration for his new book. His guide, Ivanovich, will help him explore the abandoned streets through his walkie-talkie. The developers emphasize the deep interaction with the environment: players will be able to climb onto a slide, try to spin a carousel in a derelict amusement park, attempt to restore electricity and turn on lights in old apartments and schools, or climb onto the roof of an apartment building and enjoy the view of the overgrown city.
Echo of Prypiat is set to be released on Steam by the end of 2024. The game's page is already available on the platform.