Subject 13 (video game)

Lore & Background

Subject 13 was announced in June 2014, with core funding provided by Microids. In July 2014, the studio launched a Kickstarter campaign seeking $40,000 to fund additional content, narrowly meeting the goal over four weeks. The release was originally planned for October 2014 but was delayed to May 28, 2015. The game uses the Unity engine, with English voice acting and subtitles in five languages. Ports for Linux, Android, and iOS were announced but never released. Lead developer Paul Cuisset stated the studio wanted to recapture the essence of classic point-and-click adventures. On December 18, 2016, an Xbox One port was announced for release on December 20, 2016.

Reader's Guide

Subject 13 received mixed or average reviews, with a Metacritic score of 59 based on 11 reviews. Destructoid rated it 7/10, calling it effective for both casual and hardcore puzzle fans. German magazine 4Players compared it to the Professor Layton series due to its dense, incoherent puzzles, praising the visuals and routine puzzle entertainment but criticizing stale gameplay and a clichéd background story. Adventure Gamers highlighted the atmospheric soundtrack and successful combination of first- and third-person perspectives, but joined other critics in faulting the weak story and repetitive, unoriginal puzzles. The game's significance lies in its attempt to revive classic point-and-click adventure mechanics with modern 2.5D graphics, though its legacy is tempered by mixed reception and unfulfilled promises of additional platform ports.

Did You Know?

• The game's protagonist, Franklin Fargo, is addressed as 'Subject 13' by a mechanical voice.
• The research station is located on an island formerly inhabited by the Hunapus nature tribe.
• The deity Ah Cizin tests test objects' intelligence to absorb the most outstanding among them.
• The game was announced for Linux, Android, and iOS ports, but these never appeared.