The developer of The Eyes of Ara at Australian-based studio 100 Stones Interactive has spent the last few years working on a new sci-fi indie title that tests players’ puzzle-solving mettle in vast alien structures and the world in Memory’s Reach. A love letter to Metroid Prime, but minus the combat, players of the Retro Studios title will recognize the vibes. Explore imposing monolithic structures, strange fauna, evidence of former life on a dead world with a history and story to piece together as they search for potential treasure in the stars.
When speaking to Creative Director Ben Drost about his mostly independent development of the game, it’s clear the conveyance of those vibes is deliberate as he shared his love of Metroid Prime. It even shines through in the POV, sound design, and use of data logs for world-building.
However, this title seeks to have players meander the world at a casual pace, solving puzzles left behind by civilization, and they’ll find those puzzles present themselves in all kinds of ways.
Outer Wilds left a sea change in paradigm-shifting first-person puzzle games in its wake. That has resulted in titles Viewfinder and Cocoon. Memory’s Reach leans into the alien, environmental aspects that begin to feel like an anthropological dive into a culture that is unlike those on Earth. It presents a particular challenge to create computer systems and infrastructures that need to feel somehow solvable by a casual human gamer and yet utterly alien and unrecognizable. Still, the Memory’s Reach demo at this years PAX East manages to strike that balance through simplified UI design and environmental puzzles that will make players recall their first playthrough of The Witness.
Where To Play Memory’s Reach
The demo is available to play on Steam. 100 Stones is aiming for a late 2024 release, provided it is ready by then. Droste says there is still quite a bit of work to do. However, he has had a great time experimenting in this new world. If you’re a fan of any of the aforementioned titles, we highly recommend checking out the demo with your phone off and away for a few minutes of your time.
Based in the northern stretches of New England, Evan is an elder high-wizard and co-founder of the inbetweendrafts.com. Leading the Games section, Evan is determined to make people remember the joys of older games which have since lost their way. Evan’s voice can be heard in podcasting, YouTube videos, essays, and overlong diatribes on media he wants you to have the full context on.
