If I had a nickel for every asymmetrical horror game based on a movie franchise, I’d have about 50 nickels at this point.
During Friday’s Summer Game Fest livestream, we got our first look at the upcoming Saw game, Saw: Genesis, and learned that it’s taking the well-travelled path of becoming an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game.
The Judge versus The Accused
However, Saw: Genesis appears to be doing things a little differently. While the game still pits a killer against a team of survivors, the “Judge” isn’t chasing players through corridors with a knife in hand. Instead, he influences the match from the shadows, placing traps, shaping the environment, and forcing the Accused into the kind of impossible choices the Saw franchise is known for.
In Saw: Genesis, you’re not actually playing as John Kramer. The game takes place in the aftermath of World War I and centers around a mysterious figure known as the Judge, whose methods would later go on to inspire Jigsaw’s infamous philosophy and traps. The reveal trailer hints at the Judge’s origins, showing a soldier suffering horrific injuries during the war before seemingly embracing his own twisted vision of justice.
The Judge will have exclusive access to hidden corridors, an NPC accomplice that will help pull the Accused into traps, and hallucinogenic gas and toxins to immobilize and distract the Accused.
For the Accused, survival will require cooperation. Players must work together to navigate procedurally generated maps, solve challenges, gather resources, and locate the keys needed to escape before time runs out. Of course, this is the Saw universe, so getting caught in a trap isn’t as simple as losing a chunk of health. Some traps may require players to make painful sacrifices, including permanently maiming their character for the remainder of the match in order to survive.
While some players are already comparing Saw: Genesis to Dead by Daylight, the reveal trailer gave me stronger The Outlast Trials vibes. The emphasis appears to be less on being chased by an unstoppable killer and more on surviving a gauntlet of challenges and traps.
Developed by Bloober Team
Saw: Genesis is being developed by Bloober Team alongside Anshar Studios and Lionsgate. Given Bloober’s recent success with Silent Hill 2 and its long history in horror with games such as Layers of Fear and Cronos: The New Dawn, the project is certainly in capable hands. Hopefully the game’s a bit more polished than the last Saw game we got, back in 2009.
Whilst Saw: Genesis does not currently have a release date, players eager to see more won’t have to wait long, as the game is set to join early access this autumn. Plus, Bloober Team has opened registrations for upcoming closed alpha playtests, with selected players getting the chance to experience the game early.
Watch the reveal trailer below:
