A new mystery and puzzle game, "What Awaits, Aleksey?", offers a simulation of working within a 20th-century security service, reminiscent of the acclaimed "Papers, Please."
In the game, players assume the role of Aleksey Lutomski, a recent recruit to the security apparatus of a fictional communist nation. The primary objective is to uncover members of an underground dissident cell by meticulously examining evidence. This often involves managing a cluttered desk, sorting through intercepted communications, and piecing together fragmented information to identify individuals involved in anti-state activities.
The gameplay loop involves analyzing various forms of evidence each day, including deciphered letters, covert photographs, and wiretapped conversations. Players must assemble these clues to identify members of the underground organization, known as the KNOT network, assigning codenames and verifying their identities before the end of the day. The game reportedly strikes a balance in difficulty, with some deductions requiring confident leaps of logic while others might lead to reprimands from superiors if incorrect.
"What Awaits, Aleksey?" emphasizes a tactile, physical interaction with its tools, reflecting its 1970s setting. Players will utilize mechanical devices such as an enigma machine and a tape recorder, alongside stacks of paperwork that increasingly occupy their workspace. The game also includes a system for managing clutter, allowing players to send used items to a designated 'phantom zone'.
While the full narrative arc remains to be seen, the game appears to be building towards a moral choice, similar to "Papers, Please," where players may eventually decide whether to align with the conspirators or remain loyal to the state. The source notes a humorous desire for a larger desk as a potential motivator for player choices.