MMOs touch upon the liveliness of cities in their own way, making you feel like part of a thriving world as you pass real people as you play. But how do those places feel when they empty out?
PAGAN: AUTOGENY explores the bones of an abandoned MMO, exploring the rot and emptiness that lies in the end of these digital spaces. You’re free to explore once-bustling cities and examine the empty storefronts, silent streets, and dungeons overcome with stillness, finding your own pace in this place. There’s still plenty of neat things to be found among the ruins of the world, if you’re willing to look. And can endure that yawning emptiness that has overtaken this place.
Not that trouble isn’t still looming in these places. The people have left, but the coded creatures have not, and can still menace you if you’re not careful. Gear is still lying around that you can use to protect yourself, but you might not find much of anyone to be impressed by your rare pieces. Still, they’ll help you reach the game’s varied endings.
PAGAN: AUTOGENY captures the viciousness of bargain-bin 90’s adventure games, as well as the ruthlessness of early MMOs. Even so, it’s in its loneliness that the game is at its most powerful. Capturing that feeling of playing something alone that you once shared with people, it’s a captivating, if heavy experience, and has me thinking about all of the other coded worlds I used to share with friends that I’ll never to return to.
PAGAN: AUTOGENY is available now on itch.io.
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