Nightingale is a world very different from but still much like ours. Where it deviates is the mysterious Fae introducing Magick to humanity, resulting in a world where Ada Lovelace did not perish to uterine cancer and Shakespeare's plays were not necessarily fiction. Beyond improving and changing human life, Fae Magick resulted in Realmwalkers, humans who explore the Fae Realms. It seems like a very interesting, alternative history to live in, if it weren't for The Pale. Nightingale begins with the mysterious apocalyptic event known as The Pale emerging from the Eiffel Tower, tearing the world apart and scattering folks like the player character across the Fae Realms.
Luckily (or perhaps unluckily given the Fae's nature), players are saved and guided to safety by Puck, who ensures they have everything they need for survival. That's where Nightingale's survival-crafting gameplay kicks in, as players must put down their roots and build up some form of home or base, explore the nearby Realms and search for the titular city of Nightingale, and otherwise survive the deadliest members of the Realms, including enemies known as the Bound.
Nightingale Fully Embraces the Idea of 'Games as a Place'
The most important thing that Inflexion Games' Nightingale brings to the survival-crafting genre is the idea that this 'place' belongs to players.
Ahead of Nightingale's Early Access release on February 20, developer Inflexion Games provided Game ZXC with a set of exclusive screenshots. What's clear is how uniquely beautiful each Realm can be, from their breathtaking skyboxes and environmental encounters like a Blood Moon to the fun of the game's architecture and general Gaslamp Fantasy/Victorian aesthetic. Some of these screenshots promise some tantalizing encounters in the desert biome, like that of a ship and a lighthouse. How they got there remains to be seen, whether it's a sign of things past or a result of the Pale, but exploration is important in any survival game. Nightingale has it in spades already, which is impressive since it's an Early Access title.
Exclusive Screenshots of Nightingale
It's amazing to see everything that can be accomplished in Nightingale with just three biomes for its Early Access launch. Players will be able to explore forest, swamp, and desert biomes, but these are further modified by Major Cards and Minor Cards. The former can adjust the types of factions and other spawns within that, while the latter can be played within a realm to create different effects like the Blood Moon. Nightingale's Biomes, Major Cards, and Minor Cards will only expand and add more options throughout Early Access, so it'll be exciting to see the game grow over time.
As with most Early Access titles, player feedback will be a key part of that growth. Once players begin to experience Nightingale for themselves, they'll be able to have input and shape the game's future direction. As Inflexion Games CEO Aaryn Flynn mentioned to us, the team's first priority after this launch will be to listen to these players and address the needs of the community. Therefore, fans shouldn't be shy to share what they want to see in the game; it's clear just about anything is possible in Nightingale, after all.
Nightingale
Nightingale is a PvE survival-crafting game developed by Inflexion Games, which is composed of former BioWare devs. Players must make their way across the Fae Realms, find their new home among the Realms, and discover what happened to the titular city. They can do so solo or via co-op, all under the guidance and tutelage of Puck - an ally, but can players truly trust him?