Ukrainian solo developer Po Kolu has released Mycelium: The Silent Contract, a first-person cooperative horror game, into Steam Early Access. The game puts you in the shoes of a mysterious corporation that requires you to explore a procedurally generated forest, collect mysterious mycelium, and try to survive among anomalies.
Ukrainian solo developer Po Kolu has released Mycelium: The Silent Contract, a first-person cooperative horror game, into Steam Early Access. The game puts you in the shoes of a mysterious corporation that requires you to explore a procedurally generated forest, collect mysterious mycelium, and try to survive among anomalies.
The project is designed primarily for a group of up to four people, where communication plays a key role, but it is also fully accessible for solo players. In the Ukrainian segment of Steam, the game currently costs about 200 UAH and has full text Ukrainian localization.
According to the plot, the main characters signed a contract with the Mycelium Corporation during their lifetime in exchange for success. Now that their earthly journey is over, they are forced to fulfill their debt by performing dangerous tasks in anomalous zones. Players are dropped off in a dark forest that is constantly changing its structure. The main goal is to collect the necessary amount of mycelium to «liberate the soul» and have time to evacuate.
Players will encounter over 10 types of creatures and anomalies along the way. The longer the group is in the forest, the more dangerous it becomes, as the locals also hunt for the collected resource. Between missions, players can upgrade their equipment and buy extra time for subsequent raids.
The developer emphasizes the atmosphere of a «liminal» space. «The forest will take its toll, and there will always be something hidden in the shadows that you will have to find. It is a secret that you will uncover against all obstacles,» the project description says.
Mycelium: The Silent Contract is currently in Early Access, a format the developer says was chosen as the best way to develop a procedurally generated cooperative game.
«At this point, the game already has the planned atmosphere and game mechanics. However, I still need to add a lot of content, and I hope the community will share their ideas on this,» the author notes.
What is already available in the game:
procedurally generated map with weather effects;
over 20 unique locations (points of interest) to explore;
10 types of equipment;
initial elements of plot and lore.
Over the next year, the developer plans to add larger maps, new enemies, a note system, and video clips for a deeper immersion into the game’s universe. The possibility of adding cutscenes to give the game a more cinematic feel is also being considered. The price of the game will increase after version 1.0 is released, so the current price is a kind of thanks to the early players for supporting the commercial launch of the project.
