A boy and a dog are stuck in a cold situation where there is little hope, unless they rely on each other to save it all.

From the creators of the award-winning narrative-driven adventure Lost Ember comes a new, deeply emotional experience. Ikuma: The Frozen Compass is a coming-of-age story in which you play as Sam, a cabin boy, and his sled dog, Ellie, who are stranded on an uncharted island in the Arctic in 1864. There are harsh elements and rough terrain to overcome, food to forage, and mysteries to uncover, all while Sam is on a journey to make peace with his past and become himself. Ikuma: The Frozen Compass is inspired by the 1845 Franklin Expedition and Inuit legends, and can be played solo or cooperatively.

The Franklin Expedition set out in 1845 to find a Northwest Passage between Europe and Asia. Their ships, the Terror and Erebus, were the best-equipped expedition vessels ever built, but they never made it home. The ships and other remnants were only recently discovered, and their disappearance remains a mystery to this day. The story of Franklin and his crew fascinated the developers long before they began work on Ikuma: The Frozen Compass and became their initial inspiration. In the game, they tell their fictional version of the story through a mystery that Sam must solve on the island. The Humboldt expedition was lost, and Sam’s crew was tasked with finding out what happened when they themselves were involved in an accident that left Sam and a single sled dog stranded on the island, which happens to be the setting for the final days of the lost Humboldt crew. Now Sam has the chance to retrace their steps and uncover a dark secret that led to the expedition’s tragic failure.

Switch between the two companions at any time, or play side-by-side with a friend to make the most of each character’s different abilities to achieve your goal. Use the tools and items you collect on the island to navigate and survive the rough terrain. Climb, fish, gather resources, do whatever it takes to get you and your companion to safety. Explore ancient Inuit legends to solve the mystery of a lost expedition. Retrace their steps, but beware of what’s lurking in the fog that obscures their path. Traverse breathtaking Arctic landscapes, from glaciers and caves to forgotten ships buried in the ice, using the few tools you can find.

Ikuma: The Frozen Compass will be released sometime next year for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and PC.

Source: Gematsu