Manchester, the second-leading game production city in the UK, has set an outstanding scene in the gaming world that often goes unnoticed. Local studios in Manchester have created immersive worlds and stories, making a big impact on the industry in recent years. This listicle dives into video games from Manchester-based companies, where creativity and innovation come together, offering experiences beyond typical gameplay limits.
Recompile
Recompile is a combination of platform, adventure, shooter and puzzle games; in other words, it has it all. In Recompile, you play the role of a virus in a 3D Metroidvania inside a computer. Your mission is to discover the secrets behind a bizarre malfunctioning ancient mainframe. The entire narrative of the story takes place only in one second, accompanied by a striking sound design. First released in 2020, Recompile is developed by Phigames, a game studio based in Manchester, and is published by Dear Villagers. The game has been nominated for several awards and is available on PC, PS5, and Xbox.
Death’s Door
The wonderful world of Death’s Door takes you on an exciting, mysterious adventure and exploration. In Death’s Door, you play as a crow reaper who collects souls using various weapons and magic. The 3D isometric game, a sequel to Titan Souls, is developed by Acid Nerve, a two-person team based in Manchester, and published in 2021 by Devolver Digital. Death’s Door has been hugely praised by critics, compared with successful games such as The Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls. The game is available on all platforms, including Windows, Xbox, Play Station, and the Nintendo Switch.
The Occupation
A terrorist attack leads the British government to create a controversial act which threatens the citizens’ liberties. You are a journalist and decide to reveal the truth behind the act to the public. Set in 1987, The Occupation is a real-time adventure video game taking place over 4 hours, in which you have to find evidence and make decisions. The game is developed by White Paper Games, a Manchester-based company, and its setting is influenced by the city’s landmarks. Published in March 2019 by Humble Bundle, The Occupation is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows.
Squadron 42
Eleven years after its first announcement, Squadron 42, a space flight simulation game, is finally feature-complete and is going to be released soon. In this stunning cinematic video game, you’ll be a rookie navy combat pilot in the Star Citizen universe, playing alongside realistic characters performed by prominent actors like Mark Hamill, Gary Oldman, and Gillian Anderson. Cloud Imperium, the company developing Squadron 42, originally started in Austin, Texas, and now has offices in Los Angeles, Montreal, Frankfurt, and Manchester.
AdvertCity
AdvertCity is a dystopian future city where you play the role of an advertising tycoon selling ads to megacorporations. In this cyberspace, you can select your advertisement targets from a first-person god-view perspective. You have no limits in AdvertCity; you can buy buildings, expand your influence, or even take over megacorporations and own the city. The game’s atmospheric soundtracks have been praised widely. Headquartered in Manchester, VoxelStorm is both the developer and publisher of the game. The company released AdvertCity in 2015 for Windows, Linux, and OS X.
Feature image courtesy of Sam Pak
