Experience an ethereal Ireland – here’s a new walking sim for those that loved Journey and Dear Esther

The whole games as art argument is often one that can get lost in a hail of virtual bullets and microtransactions, but sometimes, well, games actually are art.

The upcoming Benign Land, which you can wishlist now on Steam, started off life as a commissioned art installation in Belfast, Northern Island but is now making its way as an ethereal walking simulator, which in the words of its creator, Leandros Ntolas, “is a short, dreamlike experience where you embark on a metaphysical journey into Ireland’s subconscious past. Drift through and explore haunting scenes from pagan times to recent historical events, revolving around the Troubles of Northern Ireland.”

Okay, so from that paragraph alone it’s not going to be a contender to Counter Strike, but what we have here is something that sort of reminds me of the special parts of the original Senua – more experience than game.

Inspired by literary icons such as James Joyce (Finnegans Wake) and Seamus Heaney, along with the surreal cinematic language of Gaspar Noe’s Enter the Void, Benign Land takes players on a dreamlike journey through meticulously crafted scenes reflecting Irish history, from pagan times to the Troubles.

According to the publisher, Afternature, “Benign Land is designed for players seeking artistic games that challenge traditional gaming boundaries, appealing to fans of titles like Dear Esther and Journey.”

Now I love Journey, it’s one of my favorite games of all time so I am really looking forward to getting my hands on this when it releases on 24th January.

• Atmospheric Storytelling: First-person exploration of atmospheric scenes full of symbolism.
  History and Myth Combined: A journey through moments of Ireland’s past, from pagan times to The Troubles.
• Dreamlike Experience: A slow-paced, meditative journey with a surreal, hallucinatory feel.
  Stunning Otherworldly Scenes: Evocative UE5-powered environments featuring real-life assets, captured on location using photogrammetry.
• A Fusion of Art and Gaming: Originally a large-scale art installation, now available as a full digital experience.
• Original OST: Bespoke soundtrack based on the sounds and voices of Ireland, by Belfast-based sound artist and composer John D’Arcy

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