Разработчик: Bithell Games
Описание
A detective stationed on the Subsurface Circular investigates a series of disappearances among the city’s robotic working class. Collect words and phrases, then use them in dialogue puzzles to uncover the world's secrets and determine its future.
Inspired by classic adventure games and modern dialogue systems, Bithell Games has created a single session story which respects your time and your intelligence.
Key Features
- A mature, polished, one-sitting game.
- Developed by the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume.
- A graphical twist on the classic text-based adventure.
- Uses 'Focus Points', a unique vocabulary-based inventory system.
- Original soundtrack by Dan Le Sac.
- Comprehensive art gallery featuring the detailed work that went into this world.
- Unlockable ‘BithellBot’, our interactive take on a developer’s commentary.
FAQs
If this game is ‘short’, what’s to stop me getting a refund when I’m done?
You’re browsing Steam, which means you understand the work that goes into games, and are in principle up for paying for ones that entertain you. We hope that after a bit of time with Subsurface Circular, you’ll feel good about the price you paid.
Do I need to have played other Bithell games to enjoy this one?
No. Subsurface Circular tells its own self contained story.
Why is the game only available in English?
As you can imagine, a text adventure game contains a terrifying amount of text, but more importantly, throughout the game we use the particular quirks of word ordering and double meaning in English to support the combination and recombination of threads. Put simply, other languages are going to be more than a straight translation: They’re going to need rewrites and changed design. Not impossible, but more than we could get done this time around. If the game proves successful, we’d like to revisit this.
Поддерживаемые языки: english
Системные требования
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7
- Processor: 2.5 GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Dedicated 2048 MB+
- Storage: 1 GB available space
Mac
- OS: MacOS Sierra+
- Processor: 2.5 GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Dedicated 2048 MB+
- Storage: 1 GB available space
Отзывы пользователей
Incredible story that can be finished in the same amount of time to watch a movie. The world building is subtle, but as the plot unfolds it becomes much more in-depth than just "world where robots work with humans". The developer commentary available on repeat playthroughs is also very fascinating and well done.
Great game. Would play again.
Nice short story!
Fantastic movie esque game. Very engaging world with lots to say.
Yes
I don't know why, but my own butt hurts just watching this. He just doesn't stand up once the whole game. I like the plot-twist at the end, but that's it. I wish there was more to do, instead of just sitting and talking until the end. Narrative-based games are fine, I love those genres. But please don't make it limited. Its like I got nothing to do. Sit. Talk. Sit. Talk. Die.
you need to play this game
Really fun story to play through.
I was scrolling through the Winter Sale deals and this caught my eye. $1 visual novel with a robot protagonist? Alright, sign me up. There's a short intro sequence when you start a new file, similar to opening credits for a tv series. You're treated to some fantastic synthy music before it settles you into the very atmospheric & compact setting - the interior of a train. The entirety of the game takes place in this spot and your character will never leave their seat. The story turned out to be pretty compelling and I was extremely conflicted over the final choice.
After sitting with the story for a little while, I dove right back in for another playthru with the developer commentary on. It's a cool choice to have a character in the background as a stand in for them. I'd also like to say thanks to the devs for having a setting for adjusting your reading speed; I'm a bit of a slow reader and like to take my time. With the stylish visuals, I also wanted to take in everything without rushing through.
If it intriques you, I'd definitely recommend trying it out for yourself. I'll be looking into other work from these devs!
robot moment
It's a nice enough visual novel 99% of the way through. I liked the setup of the detective robot on the train taking a case against Management orders. Unfortunately, the ending ruined it for me. They didn't stick the landing: the lack of an epilogue after the only choice in the game that matters was very disappointing - even a documentary-style "where are they now" would have been enough for me, but nope, nothing. I also would really have appreciated a content warning for barely-offscreen suicide (or murder)(screen goes black last minute before you hear the gun go off).
Yes, I know the title screen says "this game contains flashing and adult themes". I made the mistake of assuming that "adult themes" referred to, like, off-screen murders and other detective noir stuff, and got hit in the head with a metaphorical frying pan by having to choose between straight-up murdering a fellow robot or killing myself. If you want to spend a couple hours being a robot detective on a subway in a dystopian future who mainly clicks dialogue options to gradually solve a mystery, sure, go for it, especially if you can get the game on sale like I did. On the other hand, if there are. types of violence. that might make you cry for an hour if presented suddenly in an otherwise-nonviolent dialogue game, like me, find something else to play.
A game where the ending poses a 'moral dilemma' something like "if you think robots being owned by the government and/or taking humans' jobs is bad, kill yourself for the greater good" is not one I can enjoy even though the rest of the game was fine.
I didn't know a short game set in one location could be so fascinating
Subsurface Circular is an atmospheric text based detective game that tells its story in a single location: a car of the titular Subsurface Circular, a metro for robots. The story unfolds in real time without time skips which makes it incredibly immersive.
The actual dialog system and investigating is rather simple, but the characters and writing are super interesting and the overarching plot is quite strong. I highly recommend checking this out, it was clearly made by a passionate team with a clear vision.
A satisfying visual novel available for a ridiculously low price
A superb dialogue-based puzzle game. It's simple and relaxing enough to be enjoyed lightheartedly yet provides quite an in-depth story accounting for how basic the whole concept is. Though they have no faces or make no sound, every Tek seems to have their own little personality that can be read off by the dialogue they relay to the main character.
The overall game-design and art style is also a plus! I love the inclusion of the little subway map so every location seems to have somewhat of a context.
The plot twist, while kinda expected and cliche, is still well-developed with adequate pacing between sequences.
Beautiful, incredible story, snappy writing.
Subsurface Circular uses all the interactive tools a game can provide in delivery a short and intimate narrative.
please play this game. you won't regret it.
Forsooth. Dost thou linger with the elation of uncommon exultation?
An interesting take on detective game where you're stuck in one spot piecing together the mystery. There was a lot of thought put into the writing and presentation so if you have a few hours to sit through it's a nice little intellectual kick. All achievements pop, and the dev commentary once you finish it (if you want to go through it again) is a nice addition with a lot of substance behind the game design etc.
This is a short, yet sharply written mystery that amazingly plays out all in a single train ride!
While Subsurface Circular is essentially a text based adventure, the presentation of the game - from the smooth music and sound design to overall aesthetics and look of the world around you - it does so much to elevate what is a really great and short experience.
I would really, really love to see another experience set in this world - even though this was a short experience, the writing managed to establish an intriguing world of Teks and Humans trying to coexist. 11/10, would look out for the next of Bithell Games' work.
Read this review and then go buy the game.
Do not look up anything about this game. Don't read the spoiler at the bottom of this review. Don't read any more reviews, they might spoil you. This game is meant to be played blind—the plot is the whole point.
Before playing, you may want to briefly read up on Asimov's three laws, and play another Mike Bithell game Thomas was Alone to catch a minor easter egg.
Play it at night, in one session. Enjoy!
Letting Red survive is the right choice
Really cool visual novel game.
Two of my favourite things: robots and detective games :)
The atmosphere and sound design is really amazing. Such a great short game. I also really love the inclusion of some small puzzles and code cracking elements!
The ending genuinely made me sad, but in the best way possible o7
It's a fantastic narrative game where you play as a robot detective solving a mystery in a futuristic subway system. As someone who loves futuristic games, this one really hit the mark. The whole game revolves around talking to other robots and piecing together clues from their conversations. The writing is sharp, and the world-building is surprisingly deep for such a short game. It touches on cool topics like AI, free will, and what it means to be “alive” in a way that’s both fresh and thought-provoking. If you’re into story-driven games with a solid mystery and some philosophical depth, definitely give this one a go.
The world needs more robot games where robots talk about being robots and their robot culture !! Gimme the bots!!! I want em!!!
An interesting visual novel about a robo mystery! It's short, but that doesn't mean that it isn't an enjoyable and complete experience. I loved the visuals, dialogue, sound design, UI, world building and the story's progression.
And I loved the reference to one of the previous developers' games x) I did not even realize I was playing one of their games until they referenced that other game lol
I highly recommend Subsurface Circular. It's a visual novel, yes, but quite loose in its structure. You engage in meaningful dialogue, solve problems and engage with a mystery. You are a robot detective on a subsurface train. A worker robot tells you about the disappearance of its friend. You begin to investigate the disappearance, despite not having official permission from your human overseers to do so. Through a series of interviews with the passengers on the train, you will begin to see the outlines of a conspiracy. It's a very good game and well worth the price.
It's very good. I really loved the world and the story, I liked helping out robots with their problems and digging into the mystery, and it did have a satisfying conclusion. Each of the robots had distinct personalities and "voices", the character design was great — but you know that already.
It's short, but it's advertised as a short game, that's fine. My playthrough was 2.2 hours and I only missed 3 achievements, but I read reasonably fast.
The downside mainly is that there's not more set in this world. It left me craving more, a lot more.
I'm not sure how to explain the other downside, because it's not really a downside, I guess. It's probably just a me-thing, but I'm honestly now craving to see a trans artist approaches a project like this. Like, Hypnospace Outlaw compared with Subserial Network. The first is so much more famous than the second but DANG does Subserial just somehow manage the whole concept better and deliver strong emotional blows. Outlaw isn't a bad game but the Subserial just hits different, stronger emotional beats. And I really do think there's room for something similar here.
Subsurface Circular is great, and exactly what I wanted. It's a gem of a game and I'd absolutely recommend it. But there's also room for it to hit much harder, I think.
oh, this game is brilliant!
super interesting. to be real, i sort of just saw the cover and i think someone recommended it to me(?) and i bought it thinking it was a gay robot game (the cover art looked a little gay, my bad), so i was a little surprised when it turned out to be a detective story, but i was pleasantly surprised! played it all in one sitting because i was very enraptured.
i love the interactions in this game, the mechanics of switching back and forth between different characters' dialogue to progress is a really fun and engaging one. i appreciate that with some of the tougher puzzles it gives you options that help you out, because it would have reduced some of my enjoyment of the game if i got stuck on them lol
Дополнительная информация
| Разработчик | Bithell Games |
| Платформы | Windows, Mac |
| Ограничение возраста | Нет |
| Дата релиза | 17.01.2025 |
| Metacritic | 83 |
| Отзывы пользователей | 95% положительных (1320) |