Amidst a deluge of demos at Steam Next Fest, many of which are suspected to contain AI-generated content, finding a gem can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. To help navigate the overwhelming offerings, players have turned to social media for curated lists and tools to filter out games with AI disclosures. Amidst this digital clutter, the demo for Fallbearers has emerged as a standout recommendation.
Discovered via Bluesky and drawn in by its trailer, Fallbearers offers a unique premise that blends the difficult physics of Bennet Foddy's QWOP with the absurd humor of Tim Robinson's sketch show I Think You Should Leave, specifically its iconic "Coffin Flop" bit. The game casts players as two Victorian-era pallbearers tasked with a solemn duty: transporting a coffin from a hearse to its final resting place.
While the pallbearers move independently, the player must meticulously control their speed, jumping, and the height at which they hold the precious, and notably slippery, cargo. Navigating the game's environments involves overcoming obstacles such as manholes, steep inclines, and even the occasional hostile bulldog. The core gameplay loop revolves around mastering the timing and coordination required to keep the coffin balanced.
The demo, though brief, provides a substantial challenge that is both harder than it looks and surprisingly manageable with practice. The primary failure condition occurs if the corpse is dropped, resulting in a game over. The developers promise that the full game will feature more varied terrain, including snowy landscapes that introduce a skiing mechanic. While a release date has not yet been announced, the game is humorously anticipated to arrive between other potential parody games like a Sloppy Steaks cooking simulator and a Dan Flashes Dressmaker DLC.
Fallbearers stands out for its originality and its commitment to a distinct, humorous, and challenging gameplay experience, offering a welcome alternative to the prevalent use of AI in game development.