Nightingale

Lore & Background

After Earth suffers a disaster caused by the emergence of the 'Pale,' interdimensional travelers escape to other realms, each procedurally generated. Players control one such traveler attempting to return to Nightingale, a human enclave created in the 'Faewilds' before the disaster. The game takes place in a Victorian-era gaslamp fantasy setting with steampunk-like aesthetics.

Players must find food, rest to recover stamina, and gather resources to craft tools. Simple items like bedrolls can be crafted easily and do not require shelter, though shelter helps recover more stamina. Umbrellas allow players to glide. Some creatures are non-hostile and only defend themselves when attacked. Combat includes melee weapons and firearms, and players can engage in dungeon crawls and raid-style combats.

Non-player characters can be recruited to assist in fights and gathering. Literary characters such as Victor Frankenstein and Mr. Hyde give quests. Players can travel between realms hosted on dedicated servers, selecting biomes like deserts, woodlands, and swamps using cards to customize the world and resources.

Reader's Guide

Nightingale was initially planned as an MMORPG before being redeveloped as a survival game. Inflexion Games, an independent Canadian studio founded by former BioWare veteran Aaryn Flynn, stated they intended to provide an interesting premise and lore rather than a strong narrative, allowing players to create their own stories. The early access period is estimated to last about a year. Two days after launch, responding to criticism about the game's always-online state, Inflexion announced it was working on an offline mode.

Reception noted the unconventional setting, with Rock Paper Shotgun comparing it to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and praising exploration, though they found traditional survival elements banal and suggested improvements to the user interface. PC Gamer expressed eagerness to return for the story and world, noting software bugs were likely during early access. Eurogamer found the early game less interesting but praised the worldbuilding. GameSpot described 'the usual survival genre stuff' but highlighted exploration potential. Despite positive reception for its 'Mary Poppins-meets-Stargate' concept, Nightingale struggled with server issues and low player retention, leading Inflexion to restructure, lay off dozens of employees, and close its UK studio.

Did You Know?

• Nightingale was originally planned as an MMORPG before becoming a survival game.
• Players can glide using crafted umbrellas, similar to Mary Poppins.
• Literary characters like Victor Frankenstein and Mr. Hyde appear and give quests.
• An offline mode was announced two days after the early access launch due to player criticism.