Hey, remember when I said give me more short games like That Which Gave Chase? No? Well, go take a quick look and come back because I’ve got another to tell you about. Under A Star Long Cold is the next title from Antonio Freyre – or Merlino, who has an excellent history of making very cool, very atmospheric short games. His latest one looks like it could be the best yet.
Get in, get out

In Under a Star Long Cold, you have 30 minutes to loot this place to pay your debts before the planet is destroyed. You better believe things are going to get intense. This stealthy-action game looks like Sam Fisher joined the Rebel Alliance and I can’t get enough of the vibes it’s giving off. With permadeath, the game looks to explore a sense of agency and hope as your limited time means you will have to act efficiently.
Scope out your targets from afar and then sneak your way into a facility tagging guards to keep track of their movements. Hold them up, and take their credits, kill them, and take more. Take things slow as you try to go undetected and silently take out your foes one by one. Although, maybe not too slow, given the whole imminent death of the planet. However, if you want to just start blasting then you can do that too. But it might not go as well as you’d like.

This is the 6th game from the same developer. Each of these has had a similar stealth theme. As well as offering shorter experimental experiences. All of which have also been very well received.
I ain’t got time to bleed play
Sometimes we don’t always have 10s upon 10s of hours to play games. Knowing you’ve got 30 minutes and by that point, you will have ‘completed’ the game – obviously, you can replay it, is a nice feeling to have. Sometimes I don’t play certain games because I know you have to dedicate hours to carve a chunk out of it.

Each of the games that Antoni Freyre has developed explores different themes and they all offer that within a few hours or so for a few quid. The aesthetic is also something that I love. I feel like each game feels connected by its style. Whilst also offering something new. Whether that be the setting, the story, or the gameplay loop. Having these succinct packages of really cool games is something I relish.
Whilst Under A Star Long Cold doesn’t have a specific release date. It will hopefully be out around February this year. In the meantime why not check out the other games?
-Will