In a chunk of stories I actually did not see coming in the waning hours of 2024, at present it was introduced that indie cult traditional sport OFF is getting launched on Steam and Nintendo Switch subsequent 12 months in a brand new and “improved” model, together with a bodily version.
For these unfamiliar, OFF is an RPG that first launched in 2008 from Belgian studio Unproductive Enjoyable Time. It was made in RPG Maker, initially launched in French, and has by no means obtained an official English translation, although a number of fan translations have sprung up through the years. It is also by no means been out there on typical, well-liked PC storefronts equivalent to Steam or itch.io, however as an alternative has circulated through the years as a direct obtain, gaining a cult following resulting from how totally bizarre, unsettling, and at occasions inscrutable it may be.
OFF places the participant in management of a mysterious baseball player-looking determine often called the Batter, who’s instructed by a speaking cat calling itself the Decide to journey by way of 4 Zones and kill ghostly creatures often called Spectres. The Zones themselves are haunting, upsetting locations run by merciless leaders, composed of unusual components equivalent to smoke, metallic, plastic, meat, and sugar, and populated by confused and typically struggling people who appear to be suffering from the Spectres. Nevertheless, as the sport progresses, the participant is inspired to query the actions of the Batter and themselves as a participant, with a number of endings doable relying on the participant’s selections.
Regardless of by no means hitting the mainstream, OFF has served as an inspiration for numerous different hit RPGs, most notably Undertale (and most notably Undertale’s absolute creepiest, freakiest stuff). The sport is coming to Steam and Nintendo Switch in 2025 each digitally and as a bodily version by way of Fangamer.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You will discover her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Obtained a narrative tip? Ship it to rvalentine@ign.com.