Who knew we needed an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but with rats? Apparently, publisher HandyGames and developer The Dreamerians did, as they just announced a new action adventure game titled A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home coming to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC in 2021.
A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home is a romantic, Romeo and Juliet-esque story about a rat and a mouse. Apparently, there’s a difference between the two – playing A Plague Tale: Innocence did a number on me when it comes to the creatures. Mat, the rodent hero of the game, is trying to find a way back to his paramour Nat, a spitfire of a mouse that is being kept as a pet. Together, they’re planning to make their escape towards freedom, which would mean the world outside the house of Nat’s captors. But achieving their plans and dreams won’t be a walk in the park. For a human, a closet may just be a closet and a door may be just that, but for a tiny rat, it is teeming with opportunities, danger, and a promise of adventure. Of these dangers, one is a threat that any rat should watch out for: the aptly nicknamed “The Claw”.
From the trailer, we can surmise that A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home looks and plays like a third-person open world adventure game, but developer The Dreamerians also included elements of 3D platforming and side-scrolling for players, utilizing the relatively large world for our bite-sized protagonist. It also promises a “raw” experience, providing no compasses, no mini-maps, or waypoints, with only your rodent survival instincts to guide you through your journey. Aside from your instincts, unique “gadgets” and “add-ons” can be gathered to increase your chances of survival on the way back home. All of these gameplay mechanics will be tied together by multiple riddles, quests and a three-part narrative driven by love, friendship, and keeping promises.
A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home’s release date is still miles away, 2021 to be exact. More details are expected in the following months for the romantic rodent adventure game.
