First details of Secret Doctrine revealed

Written by Jack Allin — May 28, 2017 at 10:52

Subways can be a lot of unpleasant things – dirty, hot, crowded – but usually they're reliable in getting people where they need to go. Not so in indie developer Gennady Guryanov's surreal 3D sci-fi adventure Secret Doctrine, which is coming as soon as next month. 

Story details are intentionally sparse for Secret Doctrine, but it's a science fiction tale "dedicated" to Robert Sheckley, whose Wikipedia page describes his writings as "famously unpredictable, absurdist, and broadly comical." One glimpse of the surreal trailer for Secret Doctrine will be all you need to understand that particular inspiration. In this case, we're asked whether we "always know for sure where a subway car is taking us to," because though it is we who "choose the route...a routine trip back home turns into a course of unusual adventures for the hero of the story."

Exploring the game's bizarre worlds in free-roaming, first-person 3D can be achieved through either classic keyboard/mouse controls on a standard PC monitor or in VR using the HTC Vive. As you attempt to understand the strange events taking place around you and make your way back home, there will be puzzles to solve along the way in order to succeed. The game will be completely narrated in both English and its native Russian, telling a story that is suitable for all ages. 

Normally we're used to hearing about lengthy wait times for such ambitious one-man projects, but the game has already been completed and is currently seeking support on Steam Greenlight. If accepted, we could see Secret Doctrine released on Windows sometime in June. For those interested, be sure to check out the official website to learn more about the game and watch another two curiously bewildering gameplay fragment videos.