The End of the Sun getting set for 2019 release

Written by Jack Allin — September 8, 2018 at 11:22

Slavic mythology may not be as widely known around the world as the lore of other cultures, but that may change next year with the release of The End of the Sun, a time-twisting adventure that crosses not just seasons, but entire eras.

The game casts players in the first-person role of the Volhv, a priest possessing "the ability to travel in time and knowledge about Navia (the space where human fates [are shaped])." Upon arriving at a small village to visit your friend, "you cannot find anyone there, at least not in a way you wanted to. All you can see are smothered fires around." In this place, where "the line between myth and reality [have begun] to fade perilously," you must use your unique gift to uncover the mystery, traveling back to four distinct time periods during four Slavic festivals, each taking place in a different season.

The first screenshots and teaser show off The End of the Sun's rustic 3D visuals, which are based on scanned images from the actual region and ethnographic museums for greater authenticity. Not only will players travel through time, but time itself will pass from day to night during your adventure, along with the weather changing dynamically. While the main gameplay focus is exploration as you "get to know the stories of the same heroes at different stages of their lives," there will be some puzzles to solve along the way, and time travel will have consquences, as "events from the past have an impact on the future." The designers hope the experience will be enlightening as well, offering a glimpse into the Slavic culture of yesteryear, including "rites, beliefs, legends" and "long-forgotten everyday activities and objects that are no longer used today."

The game's small team of indie Polish developers have been working hard on The End of the Sun for a year and a half already, and though its completion isn't imminent just yet, the game is due out on Steam sometime in 2019 for Windows, Mac and Linux.