Dark Math Games, a studio formed by several developers previously involved with Disco Elysium, has significantly reworked their upcoming RPG, initially revealed last year with strong echoes of its predecessor. Their project, formerly known as XXX Nightshift, has been rebranded as Tangerine Antarctic, and notably, the perspective has shifted from an isometric view to a third-person viewpoint.
In case you missed it, a number of games drawing inspiration from Disco Elysium, crafted by former ZA/UM team members, are in development. These include Longdue’s RPG, Hopetown, and a yet-to-be-revealed project from Summer Eternal. Furthermore, Robert Kurvitz, the writer behind Disco Elysium, and artist Aleksander Rostov are collaborating on a new title under the Red Info banner. ZA/UM themselves are currently developing a CRPG titled Zero Parades. Keeping up with all these projects is quite the task.
Timo Albert, founder of Dark Math Games, describes the premise of Tangerine Antarctic: “The game unfolds at the World’s End ski resort located on Mount Hope in British Antarctica. The central location is the Tangerine Antarctic hotel, a design from the renowned Estonian architect Kaur Stöör, where the majority of the game’s events transpire. Trapped due to a severe blizzard, players must investigate a series of perplexing murders. The Tangerine Antarctic hotel itself acts as a significant character within this true detective RPG.”
The change from an isometric perspective to third-person could be seen as an attempt to differentiate the title from the “Disco Elysium successor” label frequently attached to these projects. However, a recently released snippet of dialogue from Tangerine Antarctic suggests that the game still bears a strong resemblance to its inspiration.
The revamped Steam page for Dark Math’s game highlights “in-depth single-player role-playing with impactful decisions” and a “unique companion dynamic” to aid players in solving the murders. The developers explain that your “choices, substances, and experiences” will profoundly “affect your perception of the world.” Additionally, the game features a “Dopamine Buffet,” which is described as: “Practice your moves. Dance your way through crime scenes. Meander through parties. Or derive pleasure from completing everyday tasks. Improve with every action.”
So, imagine Hercule Poirot with the ability to break into the macarena upon discovering a body, along with the capability to perform “Marafet calculations to manipulate time and space.” It sounds intriguing, but the true quality of any of these games remains to be seen.
Tangerine Antarctic currently lacks a release date, but you can add it to your Steam wishlist.