Exodus is an upcoming third-person space RPG blending adventure, crafting, and a rich narrative featuring unique elements like time dilation and awakened animals, supported by a strong narrative team with BioWare veterans. While the gameplay and story show promise with solid mechanics and intriguing lore, the game still requires refinement in dialogue and fuller showcases of its innovative features to reach its potential.
Exodus is an upcoming third-person space RPG that combines adventure, platforming, crafting, and a rich narrative involving time dilation and awakened animals with human-like souls, such as polar bears that can fight alongside the player and pilot spaceships. The game is set to release next year, promising to be part of a strong lineup of space games alongside titles like The Expanse: Cyrus Reborn and potentially Squadron 42. The developer has released multiple short gameplay clips, offering glimpses into the game’s mechanics, environments, and story, though much remains to be revealed, especially regarding the intriguing time dilation feature where missions affect the game world over centuries.
Gameplay footage shows a standard but solid action RPG experience with combat, platforming, and crafting elements. The audio design stands out positively, and the UI includes an action wheel and party management features reminiscent of Mass Effect. Crafting ammo for different weapons and using various powers adds depth, but the gameplay so far feels familiar rather than groundbreaking. The time dilation mechanic, where the player’s absence causes significant changes in the game world, is highlighted as the most unique and potentially engaging aspect, though it has yet to be fully showcased.
The narrative team includes veterans from BioWare, with narrative directors who worked on Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect, which influences the game’s storytelling style. However, some of the early dialogue clips feel stiff and unnatural, resembling actors reading lines rather than engaging in fluid conversations, suggesting that further polish is needed. Despite this, the lore is rich and compelling, involving celestial beings, viruses, and a mysterious “remnant,” which adds depth and intrigue to the story.
The game features varied environments, including hazardous locations, cities with evolving states due to time dilation, and atmospheric settings that emphasize exploration and salvage missions. Stealth mechanics are included but appear to have mixed effectiveness and pacing impacts. The UI is generally minimalistic, which helps immersion, and the game includes interesting characters, including awakened animals who play significant roles in the narrative and gameplay. Voice acting involves notable contributors, adding to the production value.
Overall, Exodus appears to be a promising space RPG with a strong narrative foundation, interesting lore, and solid gameplay mechanics, though it still needs refinement, particularly in dialogue delivery and showcasing its unique features. The upcoming Summer Games Fest is expected to provide a more comprehensive gameplay reveal that could elevate interest. With its combination of familiar RPG elements and novel ideas like time dilation and awakened animals, Exodus has the potential to become a standout title in the space adventure genre.