Little Bat Games Announces Next Project

I really love Vampire Therapist. I think it is one of those special works that only comes around once in a while. Now, Little Bat Games has announced its next project, and it is just as interesting as its first one.

Little Bat Games has announced Better Than Us, a “Social-Stealth Narrative Game” that will pit players against something worse than creatures that go bump in the night: Billionaires. Here is what the press release says about the new announcement:

“Little Bat Games, the award-winning studio behind Vampire Therapist, is proud to announce Better Than Us, a social stealth narrative game that pits players against the world’s most nefarious people — those rich enough to make mere billionaires seem quaint.

Set in the year 2200, Better Than Us depicts a (not entirely absurd) future directly inspired by humanity’s past and present. The wealthiest people in centuries have created floating cities to insulate themselves from a worldwide climate apocalypse of their own creation, not to own mansions and sports cars, but to buy moral authority itself. And surprise, surprise: Extreme wealth doesn’t afford anyone a greater sense of morality.

They might have stolen our future, but in Better Than Us, the spoils of past plundering and pillaging can be stolen from them. Players will take on the role of a master thief and manipulator (and her rodent pal), infiltrating exclusive parties thrown by the ultra-wealthy in their floating fortresses. Rather than stealth or violence, players will use charm and deception to develop key relationships with a cast of bizarre characters corrupted by their own wealth. They’ll need to remember which lies were told to which people, weaving an ever-growing web of deceit that even an all-powerful oligarchy will struggle to see through.

Better Than Us continues critical hit Vampire Therapist‘s tradition of top-tier voice acting, with a cast led by Sarah Grayson (Hades 2, Gone Home) and Cyrus Nemati (Hades 2, Vampire Therapist). Developed in consultation with leading historians from Oxford University, UC Davis, and the University of Florida, the game promises to honestly depict the consequences of extreme wealth concentration in a tongue-in-cheek way.”

Cyrus Nemati, Creative Director at Little Bat Games also commented on the announcement, stating: “Looking to the past is a helpful way of examining modern issues. Not only is the historical record inspiring, but dead people are less able to sue small game studios.”

While Stealth is not my forte, this is the sort of game I’m excited to dig into. Things like Better than Us with real-world history behind them and a concept that is timely make gaming more interesting. I can’t wait to see what sort of characters Cyrus and his team have come up with. I fell in love with so many of the characters in Vampire Therapist, so I know even the most unhinged characters in Better Than Us will be fun to see.