Among The Trolls Wants to Bring a Spiritual Side to the Survival Genre

Forbidden Studios looks set to bring a personal touch to the world of survival games with a more spiritual take that incorporates Finnish folklore.

Recently revealed at the 505 Games Showcase, Among the Trolls is still shrouded in some mystery about the titular trolls and their appearance, but what I saw made me curious about its future. Forbidden Studios has some pedigree in its ranks (former staff from Bethesda and Unity, which is the engine being used for the game) and an idea that could help it stand out.

As well as crafting, there's rituals to learn that shape the environment

The visual style of Among the Trolls appears to be leaning towards realism, and even has a somewhat grounded story to feed into it. The protagonist is returning to their childhood home in Finland after the death of their parents, hoping to reconnect with their grandparents. As is the norm for survival games though, disaster happens and they end up lost on the shores of a mysterious forest. A forest rich with ancient history and supposed mythology. Surviving here is not going to be much different from anywhere else on the surface, but Among the Trolls demands respect for its environment before you take from it.

Forbidden Studios cites Studio Ghibli’s use of ancient, often forgotten, spiritual rules being examined in modern times as a major influence on Among the Trolls. Think Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, or Ponyo. To survive, the player will need to hunt, forage, and fell trees for lumber to make it a hospitable environment, but the idea is that players need to perform rituals and sacrifices in order to appease the spirits of the forest and gain permission. Fail to do so, and the forest grows darker and more aggressive. The only way back to relative tranquility is to perform certain rites to cleanse the forest.

Get cosy in the wilderness? Yes please

It’s a novel concept for a survival game. Quite how forceful this permission mechanic will be remains to be seen, but if the balance isn’t right, then it could transform a relatively fresh idea into something frustrating. I’m fairly sure nobody wants to be doing ritual pleases and thank yous for every flower they pick, for example. It probably won’t be that egregious, but while the game is still in its mysterious, embryonic stage, that question remains unanswered.

Still, it’s a hook that makes for a tantalizing prospect. Better to try and possibly fail than never try at all. The beauty of an Early Access release is that with Among the Trolls, Forbidden Studios can experiment with something of a safety net underneath it.

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