Ever sinceThe Invinciblewas first revealed, Starward Industries has cited three video games as inspirations for the gaming aspects:Firewatch, Alien: Isolation, andRoad 96. However, the first and foremost inspiration is, of course, Stanisław Lem’s work of the same name, his underlying philosophies, and his visions of the future back in the 1960s. Lem is considered an author and futurologist who predicted the invention of drones, smartphones, and the internet, andThe Invincibletakes players on a retro sci-fi journeybased Lem’s predictions and beliefs.
WhileThe Invincibleis an adaptation of Lem’s novel, it had to take a few liberties to successfully translate the work into the video game space, while ensuring to honor Lem’s legacy. For example, the game introduces a brand new protagonist named Yasna instead of using the novel’s main character Rohan. Working with the two mediums is a tightrope walk, but the aforementioned games helped Starward Industries in the design and presentation ofThe Invincible. Game Rant recently spoke with CEO Marek Markuszewski about how each of these games influenced the title.
These three titles should be recognizable to many fans, all of which received generally favorable and overall solid reviews. At first glance, though, fans may not see the biggest similarities between them.Firewatchis an adventure gamewhere Henry, who works on a fire lookout at Shoshone National Forest, speaks with his supervisor Delilah using a walkie-talkie. The dialogue choices present influence their relationship as they seek to solve a years-old mystery.
Alien: Isolation, meanwhile, is a survival horror game where Amanda Ripley’s daughter, Ellen, investigates the disappearance of her mother and combats another Xenomorph.Road 96is an adventure RPG where a group of teenagers try to escape the dictatorship of Petria via the titular road. Yet, each game still had a distinct impact onThe Invincible’s gameplay, story, and more.
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Of these titles,Firewatchmay be the most obvious influence. Not only doesFirewatchrely heavily on the dialogue and relationship between Henry and Delilah, asThe Invincibledoes with Yasna and Novik, but it’s a very mature story.
The same can be said ofThe Invincibleandthe way it tackles the philosophies of Lem, but it does go a little deeper than that. As Markusewski explained,
Firewatch serves as a significant benchmark for us due to its dynamic dialogues, the relationship with the person on the radio, and the maturity of its themes. We wanted to offer players a similar experience—an immersive journey in a beautifully designed world where they not only confront external challenges but also discover more about themselves.
Meanwhile, it’s important thatThe Invincibleconveys a sense of alienation and threat, which is where thesurvival horror gameAlien: Isolationcomes in. It was about combining the adventure of theFirewatchworld with the sense of suspense found inAlien: Isolation. WithRoad 96, the developers looked closely at how it defined player and character profiles, seeking to emulate that inThe Invincibleas well.
With so many adaptations from Lem’s work and inspirations from this library of games, it’s clearThe Invinciblehas a lot going for it. It’ll be interesting to see how it’s all received whenThe Invinciblereleases in just a few days.
The Invincible
WHERE TO PLAY
You are a highly qualified, sharp-witted astrobiologist named Yasna. Being entangled in a space race, you and your crew end up on the unexplored planet Regis III. The scientific journey quickly turns into a search mission for lost crewmates. Follow its trail, but be fully aware that every decision you make can bring you closer to danger.On her journey, Yasna will face decisions that will shape the outcome of the story. Help her make difficult choices and witness one of 11 possible endings to the deeply philosophical story.Discover fragments of what’s lost and report to your Astrogator. Let his voice aid you during hard times when humanity’s greatest threat emerges. The latter will force you to rethink mankind’s ambitions and biases. Go on - make decisions, follow the mystery… but remember not to underestimate the brutal simplicity and brilliance of evolution.
