Oh, I do love a bit of gaming that focuses on history. Then again, if you’ve been around long enough, you’ve seen me talk about a constant interest in both World Wars. Indeed, “Yes, but what do you mean, World War 1?” Well, it turns out someone is taking from the Aardman school of World War 1 history games, as Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina) developer, Unreliable Narrators, unveiled The Caribou Trail. A historical WWI snapshot of the Battle of Caribou Hill in the Gallipoli campaign.

Announced late last week in a showcase no one heard about because the PR on it was less than ideal, this is what the press release said about The Caribou Trail: “Developed by Unreliable Narrators, this first-person narrative adventure is set during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I and follows a young Newfoundlander who enlists with the Newfoundland Regiment, stepping into one of the most disastrous and rarely explored campaigns of the war.

Focused on survival, companionship, and the psychological toll of war, the game blends environmental storytelling with historically grounded settings to offer a deeply human perspective on life at the front. There may even be something about a ghost or two. […] Players experience the whiplash between the quiet, personal life in the trenches and the horrors of war during high-stakes missions.”

Putting aside the fact that half the press release repeats itself, it reminds me of Aardman and Digixart’s 11-11 Memories Retold, albeit without the expressionist art direction. The Caribou Trail focuses on a fascinating, often unspoken bit of the war, as is the Gallipoli campaign as a whole in media or in education. The majority of the focus is on central Europe, of course, but Gallipoli was the focus for the colonies of the British Empire: Australia, New Zealand, India, and, of course, Newfoundland. It is also most often where the indigenous soldiers saw combat, such as the Māori, and both First Nations Australians and Canadians.

As you might guess, the sacrifice of those who aren’t the faces of the Empire are very rarely highlighted as is, nevermind the theater of war they served in. Though, as far as we see thus far, The Caribou Trail‘s lead, Fisher, goes on an English-bankrolled “adventure” through the different variations on the genre of White men. I should probably point out, however, that Anzac Cove was 4 miles south of Suvla Bay, with Cape Helles and the Battle of Gully Ravine 18 miles south, where the 29th Indian Brigade landed.

History lesson and highlighting the part of the education system that’s often missed out in certain parts of the world aside, I’m excited to hear more about The Caribou Trail. In fact, you don’t necessarily need to wait to find out a bit more. Currently, there is a demo for The Caribou Trail available on Steam as part of the present “Steam Next Fest, running from February 23 to March 2.” There is no word if the demo will be available after the 2nd of March, with the press release noting, “The demo will remain available throughout the entire event, giving players additional time to discover the game, explore its atmosphere, and experience its narrative approach first-hand.“

Of course, there is no word yet on when The Caribou Trail will be released, though Unreliable Narrator’s previous title, Two Falls (Nishu Takuatshina), was announced in 2021 with a release in 2024. However, a possible positive to take away is that Two Falls had a demo in 2023, then released a year later. You can, of course, wishlist The Caribou Trail on Steam right now.

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