What defines a game by Don’t Nod, the French studio renowned for narrative-driven titles like Life Is Strange, Tell Me Why, and Lost Records: Bloom and Rage? Dmitri Weideli, an executive producer at the company, initially struggles to answer this question but eventually articulates a guiding principle: “We want to make games that matter and that give players a great story that allows them to go through different kinds of emotions,” he says. “We try to diversify the kind of games we create, but at the same time, keep the same spirit.”
This commitment to diversification is evident in Don’t Nod’s portfolio. Since its founding in 2008, the studio has developed a range of games from action-adventures about memory to narrative games featuring magical college students, and even a role-playing game about a Georgian vampire. Recently, they released Jusant, an ecological sci-fi fable with a realistic take on rock climbing.
Aphelion: A New Frontier in Sci-Fi Gaming
Aphelion, the studio’s latest venture, shares a sci-fi theme with Jusant but introduces a new, harder edge. Set on the icy world of Persephone at the edge of the solar system, the game follows a crew that crashlands and must navigate exploration, survival, and stealth in a harsh alien climate.
Despite surface similarities, Weideli clarifies that Aphelion is not a spiritual successor to Jusant. The team behind the new game transitioned from working on the episodic supernatural game, Tell Me Why. The emphasis in Aphelion differs as well; while climbing is a feature, it is simpler and not the central focus this time around. However, several developers from Jusant have joined the Aphelion team, bringing their expertise in rope physics and vertical level design.
Inspiration from the Stars
The real inspiration for Aphelion comes from cinematic sci-fi epics such as Interstellar, The Martian, Ad Astra, and Arrival. “We wanted to create a great story-driven game,” Weideli explains, “but we wanted to go within another genre, that led us to a more action-adventure oriented game.”
Intriguingly, Aphelion is steeped in real science. The planet Persephone is inspired by Planet Nine, a hypothetical large planet that many astronomers believe orbits the sun far beyond Neptune, awaiting discovery. “Planet Nine was an important source of inspiration,” Weideli notes, “and an interesting scientific grounding for an adventure featuring astronauts who explore a new planet. [But] we then added our own lore, imagination, and most importantly, human drama.”
Collaboration with the European Space Agency
Aphelion is also notable for its collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). “The ESA team gave us access to space experts and scientists, with whom we could discuss and challenge our ideas about the story of the game,” Weideli says. “For example, our narrative team could discuss the scientific aspects of a space or extraterrestrial mission, review the vocabulary of a space mission, how astronauts talk to each other during a mission. They also offered to review and give advice regarding the technology.”
While the game incorporates scientific authenticity, the design team maintains creative freedom. Alongside exploration and survival, Aphelion also features stealth elements. Although details remain under wraps, Weideli hints at unfriendly entities lurking in the ice of Persephone.
Looking Forward: A Return to Complex Gaming
With Aphelion, Don’t Nod returns to crafting complex, genre-blending video games, even after a challenging period marked by redundancies. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the studio’s commitment to storytelling and innovative gameplay remains unwavering.
In a world where many game developers are navigating their own survival challenges, Don’t Nod’s venture into the cosmos is a testament to the enduring allure of storytelling and exploration. As players anticipate the release of Aphelion, the game promises not only to entertain but also to inspire curiosity about the mysteries of the universe.
