Summary
Set on a disintegrating ship carrying the last of humanity,Judaswill see players taking control of the titular heroine as she fights through murderous machines and forms uneasy alliances in a bid to escape. Ghost Story Games founder, Ken Levine, has shared some of the interesting features planned to be implemented into the game:from narrative ‘LEGOs’that will influence the story and gameplay based on the player’s choices, to procedurally generated levels that change each time Judas dies.
With all of that in mind,Judasis shaping up to be one of this generation’s most exciting releases. However, with no recent news from Ghost Story Games, players are worried that the nebulous release window of March 2025 may be pushed back - painfully drawing out the wait even further. To reconcile this, the most players can do is bide their time and ease their sorrowswith other video games that are similartoJudas.
On the surface, it may seem likeFallout 4andJudasshare little in common bar their use of guns in gameplay, but it’s in their story where their similarities lie. The incident that led to the downfall of the Mayflower,Judas’ main setting, seems to be the reveal that The Big Three are in fact not humans, but machines. The state of the characters as shown in the game’s trailers and previews are varying degrees of unhinged, with Hope even asking Judas to kill her. This setup creates the potential for a story that could explore the existential nature of identity and humanity, a theme that is also at the core ofFallout 4’s story.
Fallout 4’s main questline, among a myriad of side quests, heavily involves synths, a race of androids that - depending on their generation - are indistinguishable from humans. Their inclusion in the game brings into question ideas of morality and what it means to be human. Players looking fora robot-centricphilosophical kick with a heap of action can’t go wrong withFallout 4.
The opening toJudas' story trailer is a montage of, presumably, Mayflower passengers enjoying the ship in a mock-tourist fashion. This, in tandem with Judas' voice over of conspiracy and admonishment, creates a satirical tone that feels right at home inTheOuter Worldsfranchise.
The game sees players taking the role of a colonist outside of time, exploring a corporate universe that only cares for power. Players can explore alien worlds, collect an arsenal of weapons, and form a party of companions in a neo-western setting that is equal parts hilarious and horrifying.
Ken Levine’s dynamic Narrative LEGO structure forJudas' story will mean that players' choices will impact the game in noticeable ways. It could giveweight to players' actions, making them stop to think before acting. Gamers looking to experience a story with a similar amount of agency in the run-up toJudas' release should absolutely check out theMass Effect: Legendary Edition.
The trilogy is full of difficult decisions, either related to the grander plot or smaller companion stories, that have a real impact. Some of the decisions players make will be felt across multiple installments in the franchise, making each playthrough of this sweeping sci-fi epic feel unique in some way. The legendary edition is the best way to experience Shepard’s struggle against the Reapers as it includes each installment of the original trilogy along with all their DLC.
Another mechanic shown off inJudas' trailers is the ability to hack and take over the robot enemies.Ctrl Alt Egotakes this concept and turns it into a full game. Players impose their disembodied conscience on a variety of robots, assuming control of them to solve puzzles and explore a vast space station.
Like anygood immersive sim,Ctrl Alt Egoallows players to approach situations in a variety of ways - from pacifist to full-blown agent of chaos. Players can’t exactly die inCtrl Alt Ego.Instead, the unfortunate robot they’ve possessed is destroyed and their ego re-enters the aether, ready to take over its next victim.
The cyberpunk dystopian setting ofDeus Ex: Human Revolution, where people are divided based on their mechanical augmentations and government conspiracies loom over the world, provides a bleak escape for gamers looking to dive into a gritty setting similar toJudas'.
Deus Ex: Human Revolutionis a great entry point into the modern state of the franchise. Players take control of Adam Jensen who, after an attack on the company he works for, is augmented with cybernetic organs and limbs - granting players abilities like punching through walls and turning invisible.
Players intrigued byJudas’rogue-lite elementsshould definitely check outVoid Bastards. Players take control of rag-tag space convicts as they traverse derelict ships filled with monsters, making use of crafted ramshackle weapons and traps.
While only the enemies and loot are procedurally generated on levels, each new campaign itself is random - providing gamers with quite a bit of replayability.Void Bastardsalso features a cell-shaded comic book aesthetic, making it a constant delight to look at.
Everygame from Arkane Studios, exceptRedfall, is an easy recommendation for gamers interested inJudas. Each of their titles are renowned for their tight immersive sim mechanics and fascinating settings. It isPrey(2017),however, that stands out among the rest.
From its mysterious opening, which won’t be spoiled here, gamers are chased by a ceaseless sense of paranoia as they try to uncover what happened on Talos 1. As the subject of an experiment, players are able to sacrifice their humanity in exchange for harnessing the same abilities the aliens on the ship use against them. Gamers enter every room with anxiety, not knowing if a chair or table is actually a mimic, and make use of environmental tools to creatively explore the space station.
Prey - Mooncrash, a paid DLC, also adds a rogue-lite spin to the normal gameplay experience.
An old giant of the immersive sim genre,Judasshares a lot of its identity withSystem Shock 2. Players awaken on a ship taken over by SHODAN, a rogue artificial intelligence, and overrun with cybernetic monstrosities. The game is akin toclassic survival horror games, with a strict inventory system, grueling combat, and a downright haunting atmosphere.
Nearly 26 years on, the game does show its age, with some of the mechanics feeling a little clunky. However, the patient gamer will have no problem adjusting to its gameplay and losing themselves in this sci-fi horror classic.
System Shock(1994) and its eventual sequel will always hold their places as the progenitors of the immersive sim genre, influencing the likes ofBioshock, Deus Ex,and yes,Judas. That being said, some players may be turned off by their dated mechanics and graphics, which is where Nightdive Studios' remaster comes into place.
System Shock(2023) adds a much-needed facelift to the original, turning it into a fully fledged first-person horror RPG. Players battle through hordes of cybernetic monsters, created by the rogue AI SHODAN, on Citadel Station. It’s an excellent visual enhancement of the classic space nightmare, providing players with a fresh opportunity to see why the franchise was so influential.
Judashas been labeled, both in endorsement and frustration depending on where people look online, as aBioShockclone. WhileJudasis doing enough to set itself apart from its spiritual predecessor, the comparisons aren’t completely unfounded. Ken Levine led the development of both games, after all.
InBioShock,players are trapped in the underwater utopia turned dystopia, Rapture, where they’ll genetically modify their DNA to gain supernatural abilities. Is all of this starting to sound familiar? A mere glance atJudas’trailer and players can draw similarities between the games' juggling of weapons and abilities with the plasmids in theBioShockfranchise. Additionally, the single location setting, crazed characters, and sprinkling of philosophical and political imagery feel right at home in Rapture. The comparison isn’t intended to be a negative one. Players should go back to experience the influences behindJudasso that - should it live up to its promise - they can better appreciate its innovations.
