I Am Your Beast: Quitting Time — 7 Things to Know Before Playing the Prequel

Alphonse Harding’s story has a new starting point. I Am Your Beast: Quitting Time arrived on Steam on October 20, 2026, taking Strange Scaffold’s action game back to an earlier chapter in its protagonist’s life. If you are returning for more of its rapid-fire encounters, there are a few useful details to know before you jump in.

1. It Takes Place Before the Original Story

Quitting Time is a story prequel. Rather than continuing from the end of the base game, it explores Harding before the events players already know. That distinction matters if you have been expecting an account of what happens next.

Chronology and recommended play order are different questions, though. A prequel label alone does not establish that newcomers should skip the original. If you are choosing where to start, consider whether you would rather meet the character through the base game before exploring his earlier perspective.

2. Harding Begins With a Different Outlook

The setup presents Harding as someone who believes in the organization he serves and trusts his handler, Colonel Charles Burkin. The story then puts those beliefs under pressure. That gives the expansion a clear dramatic starting point without needing to reveal where individual missions lead.

For returning players, the interesting question is how this earlier outlook connects with the character they recognize. For newcomers, it is a useful reminder that the expansion has a defined narrative premise; it is more than an extra set of disconnected arenas.

3. The Campaign Adds Ten New Levels

Strange Scaffold lists a fully voiced campaign with ten new levels. That is the concrete content figure to use when deciding what the DLC contains. It does not translate neatly into a guaranteed number of hours, particularly in a game built around returning to encounters.

Your pace will depend on how you approach those levels and whether you revisit them. Avoid treating the level count as either a promise of a lengthy campaign or a measure of how much challenge each mission contains. Those are questions for play, not numbers the listing settles.

4. The Setting Moves to Southeast Asia

The prequel introduces a Southeast Asian biome while retaining the game’s recognizable visual style. A change of setting provides a fresh backdrop for Harding’s earlier assignments. It also gives returning players something specific to look for beyond new dialogue.

What it does not establish is an open world or an entirely different structure. Keep expectations tied to the described campaign and its individual levels. New surroundings can change the character of an encounter without making the expansion a new genre of game.

5. There Is a New Opposing Faction

The Patriotic Defense League is the new NPC faction named in the developer’s feature list. The premise places Harding in a shadow conflict against this rival to the COI. That is enough context to understand the assignment without going into plot developments.

Do not read the faction name as a complete combat guide. Specific enemy behavior and the best response to it still need to be learned. The useful takeaway before starting is simply that the expansion introduces a new opponent within its own story setting.

6. Replays and Side Objectives Remain Part of the Appeal

The listing highlights side objectives and repeatable compact combat spaces, alongside the pursuit of faster times. That makes the first clear a starting point for players who enjoy learning a route and refining it. It also means there is room to approach a mission at your own pace before chasing a cleaner attempt.

Quitting Time additionally advertises throwable riot shields and music by Kalibration. Those are confirmed additions worth noticing, although neither tells you how a particular encounter should be solved. Start by understanding the space, then decide which optional goals you want to pursue.

7. The Steam Version Requires the Base Game

Quitting Time is sold as downloadable content and requires I Am Your Beast on Steam. It is not a standalone entry, so check what you own before buying. The store also offers a complete-edition bundle, making it worth comparing the actual contents shown for your account.

This article’s release and ownership details refer to Steam. Do not assume that the same purchase rules, release timing or bundle contents apply on another storefront. Open the relevant platform listing before spending money, especially if you are returning to the game on a different device.

We previously included the original game in its 2024 indie games roundup. Quitting Time gives returning players a new story to explore without requiring this preview to reveal its surprises.