SIREN: Everything We Know

Loreseeker Games is fighting tooth and nail to keep a new type of nautical world afloat over on Patreon — a mystical mermaid-centric open world RPG titled SIREN. And from what we’ve caught of the rather niche blueprint so far, it’s definitely a concept that we’ll want to refrain from capsizing. Why? Well, to put it straight — how many other mermaid RPGs have you seen scrambling around the coral fields these past few years? And before you say it — no, Sora doesn’t count.

Let it be said that we could still very well be a few years away from seeing SIREN grace the shelves. For the sake of being prepared for what’s to come, though (and it will come), we’ve gone ahead and chalked up everything you need to know about it. What is it, and when are we likely to see it arrive on its proposed platforms? Let’s get nautical.

What Is SIREN?

On paper, SIREN sounds a whole lot like Horizon: Zero Dawn; a curious explorer from an otherworldly realm discovers a forgotten mystery hidden beneath the surface. However, rather than opt for an advanced technology abandoned by a century-old civilisation, SIREN instead ventures down a nautical route—a coral road that revolves around the history of the Mer people.

Going by the blurb, the game will feature a “fairly traditional single-player RPG narrative, where the player is pulled into a quest to explore and discover the mysterious history of their tribe/kingdom; the ancient secrets of Mer civilization.” There’ll be third-person combat, open world exploration, and even a full-fledged character customization suite to boot. So, evidently more than your bog-standard mermaid sim.

“Imagine your favorite RPG, but this time you're a mermaid fighting Abyssal Evil,” the Patreon page opens. “Sounds cool, right? Has it been done before? No, not even close. Go google “mermaid video game” right now and stare in bewilderment at the thin results.” They’ve got a point, to be fair. Well played, guys.

Story

SIREN will transport players to the sunken realms of the Mer people—a curious bunch who just so happen to sit on top of an entire ocean of history. As either a Merman or Mermaid, you will have the opportunity to swim deep into the abyss and unravel the secrets that wallow beneath the darkest depths. Just who are the Merfolk, and how do you tie in with the legendary species?

In Loreseeker Games’ own words: “In this open-world RPG, players will take on the role of a playable mermaid character. As you explore, you'll uncover the forgotten history of Mer civilization, and discover hidden lore while facing an ancient darkness lurking in the abyss.” As for what this ancient darkness is is still very much anybody’s guess. That said, given the fact that there’s a certain amount of combat involved, it’s clear that there’ll be some level of confrontation between the Merfolk and another species that looms beneath the waves.

Gameplay

SIREN is an open world dark-fantasy RPG with a Souls-like twist. As such, it’ll feature a third-person combat system—one that’ll include “ranged abilities, melee, hydro-kinesis, and evades.” It’ll also include the option to create your own character, which will no doubt tie in with specific abilities and traits.

“The shallow reefs are designed to be a relaxing, casual experience, but the deeper you go, the darker things become, both visually AND thematically,” the description adds. “Whether you're a gaming veteran, or stepping into RPGs for the first time, we invite you to take a deep breath and prepare to dive into a brand new world.” Exciting stuff.

Development

SIREN is being developed by Loreseeker Games, a small team who’s reportedly working after hours to transform the crowdfunded project into a full-time venture. If you’d like to stay involved with the game and help usher in a new chapter for the team, then you can pitch in over on the official Patreon handle here.

“Loreseeker Games is a brand new (unfunded) team of indie devs with a strong artistic vision, and some insanely cool lore that is begging for a new IP,” the elevator pitch reads in part. “We are currently working on this for free, as an after-hours passion project, but we need funding to take it further. The gaming world NEEDS its first underwater dark-fantasy. It's way overdue.” True.

Trailer

In spite of the game having no concrete release window, SIREN does at least have a trailer to help tide potential fans over. And a pretty in-depth one, at that. But don’t let us spoil the goods for you. You can check out the trailer embedded above and catch a glimpse of what’s to come for yourself. Fingers crossed the final product will look as sleek as its preview!

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

While we can’t say for certain when SIREN will be hitting the shelves, we do know that it’ll be shaping up for a release on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. It won’t be coming to Android and iOS, though, as the team claimed “support will be very unlikely, if not impossible.” And as far as Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions go, well, who knows.

It’s early days yet, so there aren’t any special editions to get ahold of. There are, however, a select number of exclusive perks for those who support the project over on Patreon. If that’s your cup of tea, then you can pledge your loyalty to SIREN via its crowdfunding handle here.

If you’re after a few additional details on the story and all its accompanying features, then be sure to check in with Loreseeker Games’ social feed here. We’ll be sure to let you know just as soon as the team finds the funding to full-throttle the project. Until then, feel free to join us in scouring the web for the closest mermaid-centric alternative. Not as easy as it looks, is it?

Fin.

So, what’s your take? Will you be getting your hands on a copy of SIREN when it reaches the shores? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.