Under A Rock is a new survival project on Steam being developed in Unreal Engine 5. The small developer studio “Nordic Trolls” has been working on the title for months and aims to offer procedurally generated open worlds, including crafting and base building. The first trailers and a brief introduction can be found on MeinMMO.
What kind of game is this? Under A Rock is a new indie title on Steam where you explore your own procedurally generated open world.
The title features survival mechanics, generous base building options, and cooperative gameplay for up to 10 players. AI-controlled factions are also expected to inhabit the vast worlds, which are said to be up to 62 km² in size.
The trailer provides a first glimpse of a procedurally generated open world. Another trailer showcases the possibilities for base building, including mills, coastal buildings, and a cooking station with a quirky animal that seems to be a local delicacy:
When will Under A Rock be released? There is no release date yet. However, it is already confirmed that Under A Rock will first appear in early access on Steam (via Steam).
What are the special features? On the Steam page, the developers have already revealed some of the planned details for the survival title.
- Setting
The setting is inspired by exploration tours in the early 19th century. You have a breakdown with your hot air balloon and land in this undiscovered, lost land. Animals have evolved differently here and are much larger than usual. Curses and the supernatural are also part of the setting.
- AI Mechanics
To bring dynamism to the world, there are various AI factions that are diligently working for their own benefit. Neanderthals have survived in this world, built their own settlements, and can even attack you. The developers also mention dodos that can oppose you. The AIs react not only to you but also fight and influence each other.
- Open World
The large open world is to be created procedurally with the help of Unreal Engine. Every map you start is unique, offering many water bodies at different heights and large tunnel systems that are said to seamlessly integrate into the world. Similar to the massive maps in Valheim.
- Quests
Your adventures in the worlds are also to have an ending. Similar to the survival hit Raft, you pursue a goal and must find a way back from the island that leads you back to civilization – of course with many treasures and artifacts. Your character is not lost; you can also use it on other servers.
It is still too early to assess the hit potential. However, these small survival gems from indie developers always have the potential to break through on Steam – see the Viking adventure Valheim or the gothic hit V-Rising.
Leave us a comment with your first thoughts on Under A Rock. If you would prefer to see a list showcasing such Steam successes, then check it out here: 5 games that surprisingly exploded on Steam
