Boars in Rome is an expressive parkour platformer set in a dystopian version of Rome, drawing inspiration from games like Mirror's Edge and Dishonored. The game is currently available via a playtest for those interested in trying it out.
The game's premise involves a future where Earth has been abandoned, and machines and nature have reclaimed the planet. Players will explore the remnants of Rome, where historical monuments are juxtaposed with futuristic megastructures. The narrative suggests a mystery surrounding events that occurred while humanity was in stasis.
Mechanically, Boars in Rome focuses on fluid movement, allowing players to run, jump, slide, and wallrun. The gameplay also incorporates additional movement techniques such as swinging on lampposts and vaulting over obstacles, aiming for a more expressive experience than purely minimalist parkour games. The developers cite Counter Strike Surf as another influence.
The level design in Boars in Rome is described as linear, with a clear objective to reach an endpoint, but offering freedom in how players navigate the environment. The visual style and atmosphere of the game, particularly in its initial levels, have been compared to the work of Viktor Antonov on titles like Dishonored and Half-Life 2.
While there is no official release date yet for Boars in Rome, interested players can sign up for a playtest via the game's Steam page. The game is also available to wishlist.