Song in the Smoke (2021)

Developer: 17-BIT
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Action, Adventure, Simulation
Rating: 4.3 of 5, 63 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 5.8 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

You are dropped into a dark, primal wilderness where every resource must be gathered and crafted by hand, and every predator can be a lethal threat requiring your full attention.

atmosphericsurvivalcraftingtenseimmersiveforestpredatoryfirst-person vr

What players say

Players praise the atmospheric survival and intuitive crafting, but many find the gameplay loop repetitive as each area demands the same gather-upgrade cycle. The difficulty is punishing on hard, though regular is manageable. Controls like weapon summoning and teleport movement feel dated to some. The campaign is a solid 12–17 hours with little reason to replay.

Screenshots

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More by 17-BIT

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.