Exploration is about intentionally getting lost and the joy of being found again. Your presence is the driving force behind the evolving environment as you establish permanent monuments to mark your way. Without your presence, will the forest still come alive?

Shape of the World, powered by Unreal Engine 4, builds on the ideas of experiential games like Proteus and Flower where points and combat don’t enter the equation. An evolving world that grows with each step and hints at distant landmarks encourages the player to explore. Shape of the World offers a unique unfolding experience for those seeking an alternative to quest-driven adventure games.

Exploration is a part of many games but never the focus. Shape of the World puts exploration first. Exploration is about the thrill of getting lost - that moment when you discover an area you've never seen before and you're not sure which way to go. Only when you're lost can you experience the pleasure of being found. It is your task to leave a trail of monuments that represent your journey and help you find your way.

“I’ve been pushing hard to bring Shape of the World to life on and off, in my spare time after work, for a few years now. It’s a colorful and surprising place I’ve made for people to relax after a busy day, inspired by all my stress-relieving hikes and bike rides through the old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest where I live. I’m stoked to finally be so close to getting it into players’ hands!m ” said Stu Maxwell, Lead Designer at Hollow Tree Games.

Shape of the World is deliberately disorienting. The forest only materializes around you when you get close, and it regrows in a new way each time you pass. The game features a graphically compelling procedurally generated environment that shifts continually. What will you find when you retrace your steps?

Shape of the World is modeled with bold, minimalistic beauty. Our lead developer (Stu Maxwell from The Coalition) is a VFX artist and has created a world that mixes contemporary motion graphics with vintage poster and animation design.

Inspiration also comes from the place we live. North America’s west coast and has formed the basis of many of our concept drawings. We are fortunate to be surrounded by old-growth forests even in the city of Vancouver where you can leave your normal world behind and embark on a winding trail. We’ve found that the journey is always more compelling than the destination.

Shape of the World features integrated audio that responds to the player’s travels. The audio environment is a central component of the game, amplifying your experience of the world.

Equally inspired by the drone of classical South Asian soundscapes and the brightness of modern electronic beats, the soundtrack will provide an enveloping aural experience to match the psychedelic world. The full original soundtrack will be released alongside the game.

Discover the game:

• Experiment with an organic and mysterious ecosystem: Play with mystical animals, ephemeral vegetation and intriguing monoliths.
• A dynamic soundtrack that responds to the player’s travels: The audio environment is a central component of the game, amplifying your experience of the world.
• Procedural Population: The forest only materializes around you when you get close, regrowing in a new way each time you pass. Will you find your way back?
• First-Person Exploration: More than just a walking simulator. Slide, soar and dive through a living world, at once familiar and alien.

Shape of the World will be available on Steam, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One early 2018, with a Mac version following at a later date.