Underrail

Lore & Background

Underrail is set in a far future where the Earth's surface has been uninhabitable for a long time, and the remaining humans live in the eponymous Underrail metro network. Conflicting factions struggle violently to survive in harsh underground conditions, with food and living space being the scarcest resources. A greater background plot concerns the nature of time, but the game primarily focuses on the inhabitants, their politics, strife, and the dangers of Underrail itself.

The player assumes the role of a new citizen of South Gate Station (SGS). Early in the game, the protagonist is tasked by station councillor Hadrian Tanner with assisting repair efforts after a massive earthquake that disrupts train routes and isolates the station. These tasks lead to a mission to Depot A, a mutant-infested junkyard, to retrieve a circuit board. It is soon revealed that the earthquake was triggered by an incursion by the Faceless, a technologically advanced group of cybernetically augmented beings. The plot culminates in discovering an alien artifact called 'The Cube,' which is stolen by the Institute of Tchort, a pseudo-religious scientific order. The player may infiltrate the Institute, descend into the Deep Caverns, defeat the entity Tchort, and recover the Cube. The game concludes with the player choosing either to pursue Tanner into North Underrail or to remain and assume leadership of South Gate Station.

Reader's Guide

Underrail's significance lies in its faithful homage to classic turn-based RPGs, particularly the Fallout series, while introducing its own complex systems. The classless character development, with base abilities, skills, and feats, offers extensive customization and replayability. The turn-based combat system expands on Fallout's model with special abilities, psionics, and combat utilities, providing many tactical options. The game's custom engine, built using C# and XNA, was developed by a single primary developer for most of its early stages, with crowdfunding and early access sales supporting its completion. Underrail received mixed reviews according to Metacritic, but its dedicated fanbase and continued support through two expansions—Expedition (2019) and Heavy Duty (2023)—demonstrate its lasting appeal. A sequel, Underrail 2: Infusion, is in development, indicating the game's enduring influence in the indie RPG space.

Did You Know?

• The game was known as Timelapse Vertigo during its pre-alpha and earlier development stages.
• The first trailer for Underrail was released on March 11, 2013, showcasing alpha version gameplay footage.
• The game's ruleset is mainly inspired by the SPECIAL system from the Fallout series.
• A sequel, Underrail 2: Infusion, is currently in development.