The Pines is a new psychological horror game with role-playing elements that is already being compared to Alan Wake games. The project may be of interest to fans of dark stories and investigations.
Players will play as Detective Edward Walker, who is investigating the disappearance of a girl. The tired hero arrives in a quiet town, hoping to relax, but quickly realizes that the place hides dark secrets, and returns to the case.
The development is being done by one author from Studio Abattoir, which makes the project especially unusual for the genre.
The gameplay combines horror and RPG mechanics: searching for clues, dialogues with residents, and gradual disclosure of the story. The main emphasis is on choices – each decision affects the hero and the behavior of the characters, which leads to unpredictable consequences.
Among the key systems are a completely manually created open world with secrets and side stories, investigations with analysis of evidence, as well as a combat system with evasions and parries.
The «Stalker System» stands out separately: if the player spoils relations with the residents, an ordinary character can become a pursuer and start hunting in the forests of the city.
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