It’s not every week George Orwell makes his way into two pieces of gaming news, but strange times certainly do lead to strange headlines. 75 years after the publication of Orwell’s influential novel Animal Farm, a collaboration of indie developers have announced the iconic story is making its way onto PC and mobile platforms this fall in Animal Farm. Developers Nerial (creator of the popular Reigns series) and The Dairymen (composed of Andy Payne, founder of Just Flight and AppyNation, and Bossa Studios’ Imre Jele) aim to create an experience that allows players to witness firsthand “the corrupting nature of power” in their upcoming title. Additionally, the Orwell estate itself is also involved in the game’s creation, providing guidance and expressing excitement for the team to “shine a new light on Orwell’s perennial classic.”
Animal Farm is billed as a strategic adventure game in which players have to manage resources, defend the farm, and keep its various inhabitants content- a task made all the more challenging as the game forces players to choose which animals they help and which they ignore. With picturesque illustrations and narration provided by Assassin’s Creed: Origins’ Abubakar Salim, Animal Farm seemingly seeks to firmly retain it’s literary roots while making the jump to a shiny, new medium, where different audiences can engage with the political allegory still relevant today.
“History seems to repeat itself. And once more, Orwell’s classic has become a painfully relevant warning as some Western democracies started using tools and language eerily similar to those of oppressive regimes of the past,” project founder Imre Jele said.
While it has been said the player’s choices will influence the “critical events that define the fate of the farm,” it’s unclear whether this means the game ultimately has alternate endings or if it will remain a fairly strict retelling of the classic tale. If it is the former, I am absolutely thrilled to dry my middle school tears and give Boxer the “better” that big guy deserved.
The game is available to add to your wishlist on Steam now.
Jessica Howard is an editorial intern at Paste and the managing editor at gaming site Uppercut. She enjoys loud music, hot coffee, and games with romanceable NPCs.