“In the Shadows of Survival: Exploring the Nihilistic Realms of ‘The Tribe Must Survive'”
Yesterday, while I was indisposed with a The Tribe Must Survive fever, my inclination toward consuming nihilistic and somber entertainment led me to explore both the cinematic and gaming realms. On the film front, I delved into the eerie world of “Session 9,” a tale of men tasked with removing asbestos from a crumbling 19th-century asylum, resulting in an unpleasant experience. Simultaneously, in the gaming realm, I immersed myself in “The Tribe Must Survive,” a colony management simulation developed by Walking Tree Games GmbH and published by Starbreeze Publishing, currently in its early access phase.
The Tribe Must Survive
The essence of the game is reminiscent of Lord Byron’s poem “Darkness,” depicting a world without sunlight, where hearts are chilled into a selfish plea for light. Scenes of ghoulish refugees huddled around diminishing watchfires mirror the unsettling atmosphere of the game. However, the NPCs under my command in “The Tribe Must Survive” faced a unique challenge – the absence of spectral tentacles abducting Byron’s melancholic characters.
Set in what the developers term a “Lovecraftian Stone Age,” the game presents a grotesque, primordial reality where human and animal silhouettes with unblinking white eyes resemble cave paintings. The colony management mechanics draw inspiration from Frostpunk’s radial base design and survival theme. The central focus is the campfire, akin to Frostpunk’s generator, providing protection against shadows after sunset. This introduces a frantic rhythm of wood supply management, crucial for both survival and construction.
The narrative unfolds as a journey to uncover the mysteries lurking in the darkness, with story events revealing the activities of an elder generation of Builders. While the exact threats in the shadows remain unclear, tribespeople standing in total darkness face imminent danger, emphasizing the importance of summoning hunters home at dusk with the night horn.
Despite the interface’s readability challenges on smaller monitors, the game excels in creating an immersive atmosphere, relying on ambient noise and instrumental music that dynamically responds to the players’ progress. Whispers of tribespeople and the muffled sounds of their tools contribute to the overall haunting ambiance.
“The Tribe Must Survive” extends its complexity beyond survival mechanics, incorporating a nuanced simulation of mental stress and social dynamics. Each NPC has fear, panic, and discontent stats affected by events like disappearances. Factions devoted to different gods and ideologies may form, and negative stats can lead to shock, delirium, or even bloody riots. Remedies range from more light and spiritual ceremonies to potential human sacrifice to appease dominant factions.
Despite my brief stint, the game left a lasting impression, prompting reflection on other video games that masterfully capture the suspense and eldritch essence of night. Titles like Klei’s “Don’t Starve” and Minecraft, with its perpetual fear of monsters spawning in the shadows, come to mind. As I navigated the eerie landscapes of “The Tribe Must Survive” during my feverish state, it sparked contemplation about the diverse ways video games evoke primordial fears and suspense during the night.
