Narrative game designers seem to have all discovered the idea of setting their stories in cabs at the same time as a slew of similar interactive fiction games have made their way onto the market this year. And, yes, I know that’s not an entirely fair characterization. This happens from time to time, and certainly there are other game genres where similarly themed games seem to materialize all together.
Besides being set in cabs, these three games from 2019 also share one important thing in common – they all look extremely well designed. So we thought we’d do a quick round-up of each of them to revel in their nocturnal beauty and narrative styles.
Enjoy!
Neo Cab
Coming October 3, 2019, Neo Cab comes from developers Chance Agency and is being published by Fellow Traveller.
In the game you play as Lina, the last human driver-for-hire on the streets of Los Ojos. Your friend and only lifeline has gone missing; with no money and nowhere to stay, the only thing you can do is keep driving.
From the Neo Cab app, you’ll choose your passengers and navigate the city grid. Connect and converse with them as you drive to their destination. You’ll need to maintain your perfect rating to stay on the road. Balance your monetary needs and the needs of your passengers with your own emotional wellbeing. What’s more important: your mental health or your star rating?
As you discover the secrets of the city from the front seat of your cab, you may uncover more about the danger facing your friend Savy.
Each character you meet has their own story to tell, and secrets to share. Every choice you make affects your mood, and your mood will affect what choices are available to you.
An emotional survival game, you must balance what feels right with what Lina needs to survive.
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Bird of Passage
Bird of Passage is a gorgeous game developed by Space Backyard. It is is a free night ride across Tokyo.
As you play, you are granted access to the private conversations between a quirky passenger and the taxi drivers he will encounter en route.
You must listen carefully and help him find his path… but beware, you may cry along the way. It can get emotional.
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Night Call
Night Call is a non-linear, narrative-driven noire investigation game. You are no detective, but you do have a gift. Around you, people feel more at ease. They talk. They share their thoughts, their emotions, their stories… their secrets. To passengers, you are more than just a driver; you are also a friend, a confidant, a shrink. A voyeur catching a glimpse under the masked but very real lives throughout the City of Light. And you’ll need to play these roles well if you want to catch the killer.
A mysterious serial killer stalks the streets of modern-day Paris. The body count rises, and the police are no closer to catching the culprit. You are a taxi driver and survivor to the killer’s most recent attacks, having barely escaped with your life. You have seven nights to help find the killer, or the police will pin it on you.
Use the limited time you have available each night to gather clues while earning money to pay your bills. Drive passengers to their destinations, hear their stories and choose your responses carefully—some are just regular people with a tale to tell, while others might reveal a clue that’s key to your investigation. Follow the right leads to uncover new info about the suspects, and don’t forget to make enough money to buy gas and pay your bills.
Can you solve the mystery before it’s too late? Better hurry—both the clock and the meter are running.
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THE PULSE is out now on Google Play
StoryFix Media 