We’ve had about four decades of games as we generally know them today, and yet somehow their stories so often seem so limited in scope. I’m not talking about a lack of big and bold ideas, in fact, there may be too many. Rather, I mean that there are aspects of life that are often discovered in games. For example, when was the last time you saw a game about a workers’ strike? Citizen Sleeper 2 has a questline about such a thing, but that’s exactly what the game as a whole is about. A Line Held Tight, a mecha visual novel about a sci-fi miner’s strike, could fill that gap.
A Line Held Tight is developed by Humble Grove, the studio behind the calm but impactful No Longer Home. Storytelling is also at the forefront in this game, although the focus is on the choices you make throughout the typing process. You play as The Canary, a member of a mining colony cut off from the rest of humanity in the 32nd century. “As a strike breaks out, you’ll help the Canaries decide where their hearts and loyalties lie,” explains the game’s Steam page. “A branching narrative weaves its way through the deep tunnels of the mine to meet the characters within as outside influences make themselves felt.”
The aforementioned choices you make primarily affect The Canary’s relationships with friends, family, and other workers, a mechanically much more appealing concept than simple different endings or storylines. In the world of union organizing, it’s the relationships you build with others that are really the key element, so it’s nice to see the emphasis placed on that, both narratively and mechanically. The game also features stunning hand-drawn charcoal artwork, as well as a traditional folk soundtrack, a pretty unique combo for a game.
As it stands, A Line Held Tight does not currently have a release date. It makes up for that with a demo you can try right now as part of Steam Next Fest, at the very least. There’s a nice little video explaining some of the thought process that goes into creating a game like this from Humble Grove that you can also check out below. And while you’re doing that, whether you watch the demo or not, maybe give the game a little time. wishlist on Steam.
