Margin of the Strange: Everything We Know

Future Cat Games, the developers of the wildly popular adventure-puzzle game OneShot, have another game in the works: Margin of the Strange. The developers say that the concept behind this game has been in the making for over two decades. Clearly, a lot of work and thought has gone into it, and the gaming community is eager to try it out.

While Future Cat Games hasn’t set a specific release date for its new game, it has shared some insightful content about how it will work. This comprehensive preview discusses everything we know about Margin of the Strange.

What is Margin of the Strange?

Margin of the Strange is a gardening-themed game in the mystery-exploration genre. It is based on a dream world called Margin, which is eerily different from the waking world and quite strange. The game is driven by an intriguing story that gradually unravels to solve an underlying mystery. As the game progresses, players get answers to critical questions from the narrative. Interestingly, the game shares a few striking similarities with Yume Nikki and its sequel, Yume 2kki.

Story

Margin of the Strange follows a deeply intricate story that clears up slowly as the game progresses. Following Ling, the game takes you on his excursions into an exclusive dream world. The dream world is only accessible to a few humans and other strange creatures. However, Ling gains the ability to access the dream world, but only after experiencing a life-changing event that led to his death and resurrection; no pun intended.

The mystery behind Ling’s death and resurrection raises more questions than answers. It isn’t clear how he died. However, he was resurrected by Nil, a denizen of Margin. His experience with death and resurrection has left him in a perpetual state of confusion. In fact, he currently doesn’t have much recollection about how the world works.

Nil, a master manipulator, intends to use Ling as a host to enable him access to the waking world. However, while he managed to bring Ling back to life, he still can’t enter or control his body. Interestingly, no one knows what this master manipulator intends to do when he gains access to the waking world. Players can find answers to these intriguing questions as they unravel the story and solve both worlds’ mysteries.

Notably, every character in Margin of the Strange has a unique story to tell. For example, Amaranth is a teen genius and scientist with questionable ethics. Hesper, on the other hand, is a skilled craftsman, despite being a moth.

Gameplay

The gameplay in Margin of the Strange incorporates diverse activities. They include exploring the dream and waking worlds, building stuff in the dream world through agriculture, and interacting with characters in both worlds.

Much of the gameplay involves exploring Margin, the strange dream world with bizarre landscapes and biomes. The dream world also has abnormal physical laws that make it feel more alien compared to the waking world. However, the bizarre world is actually a sprawling ecosystem where everything works in harmony, as you will find out as you discover more of it. Notably, you must collect materials to expand the parts of the world that are available to you.

Most explorations occur when Ling is not sleeping. This offers an opportunity to meet and interact with other humans who can access the dream world. Interestingly, the characters you meet in the waking world can answer your questions and fill gaps in the story to unravel the big mystery behind your life and death. There is nothing strange about the waking world. However, Ling has no idea how life works and everything seems strange to him. To this end, Amaranth easily tricks him into becoming a willing subject for her unethical scientific projects.

In addition to exploration, players can also develop buildings and other items through the game’s gardening system. Before any construction takes place, players require building materials and resources, which they acquire by collecting around the game's environs. After the collection, gamers take the materials back to their home base, adding them to their garden to grow enough materials. Once done, players can hire moths to assist in the building process.

Development

Margin of the Strange is currently under development by Future Cat Games. Interestingly, the developers have been working on the game’s concept for the past 20 years.

Over the years, the game has taken various forms. It first launched as a webcomic and later as a Flash-based visual novel. And finally, the developer is ready to take the concept to the next level by releasing it as a video game.

After the announcement of the game, the developer in turn launched a fundraising campaign to raise capital to complete the game’s development. Currently, the team lacks enough artists to work on the game’s graphics and music and expand the in-game animation scope. They hope to collect approximately $62, 812 by June. Hopefully, the developers will hit their target and complete this unique game’s development.

Trailer

The official trailer for Margin of the Strange is short and a bit obscure. It showcases Ling going to sleep in the waking world and exploring the dreaming world. You can see the dreaming world’s bizarre landscapes dotted with crystals, exotic plants, buildings, and other natural and man-made structures. Some of the scenes also showcase Ling harvesting crystals and other materials.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Unfortunately, Future Cat Games hasn’t set a specific release date for Margin of the Strange. The game’s completion will depend on how soon the developers can raise enough funds and other resources to continue development. Ideally, the game should launch at the end of this year or in 2025.

This game will be compatible with PC, but the developers have not specified the minimum or recommended PC specs. It is still unclear whether the game will work with other platforms, such as consoles and mobile devices.

So, what’s your take on our preview of Margin of the Strange? Are you eager to play the game? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.