Former Skyrim Dev Nate PurkeyPile’s The Axis Unseen Has a Demo Which Includes a Mechanic That Absolutely Must Become an Industry Standard

In the world of indie games, few titles manage to capture the imagination quite like The Axis Unseen has. A solo venture of Nate Purkeypile, former Bethesda veteran with over 20 years of experience on titles like Skyrim and Fallout, this “heavy metal horror game” is turning heads for all the right reasons.

But it’s not just the game’s haunting visuals or its promise of monster-hunting folklore that has caught everyone’s attention! A seemingly small but incredibly player-friendly feature in the game’s demo has many wondering why every developer isn’t doing this already.

The Axis Unseen: Where Progress Isn’t Lost in the Void

Purkeypile recently took to Twitter to share some exciting details about the game’s demo:

About the demo for The Axis Unseen:
-It’s about an hour long
-You can keep playing after you beat it

And importantly:
-When you beat it will seamlessly sync your save to the full version via Steam Cloud and you KEEP YOUR PROGRESS

All games should do this, RT if you agree😆 pic.twitter.com/aKUjRkhmHE

— Nate Purkeypile – The Axis Unseen 🤘🏹🔥 (@NPurkeypile) July 30, 2024

This seemingly simple feature is actually a game-changer. How many times have you played a demo, only to find that your progress doesn’t carry over to the full game? It’s a frustration that many gamers have faced, and the developer’s solution is elegantly simple.

By allowing players to seamlessly transition from the demo to the full game, The Axis Unseen respects the time and effort players invest. It’s a player-friendly approach that, as Purkeypile suggests, should become industry standard — and we don’t see why anyone would argue otherwise!

A World Steeped in Mystery and… Metal?

While the demo’s progress-saving feature is certainly praiseworthy, it’s far from the only thing the game has going for it. Its visual style reflects Purkeypile’s years of experience creating immersive worlds.

From what we’ve seen in trailers and screenshots, The Axis Unseen boasts a hauntingly beautiful environment that seamlessly transitions from vibrant, sun-drenched landscapes to eerie, moonlit forests. The game’s monsters, inspired by folklore “from all around the world,” are both terrifying and awe-inspiring in their design.

The “heavy metal” aspect isn’t just for show either. The soundtrack, composed by Clifford Meyer of post-rock band Red Sparowes, dynamically adapts to the player’s actions, adding another layer of immersion to the already atmospheric world.

As players explore this unique setting, armed with a bow and elemental arrows, they’ll uncover the secrets of the land and face off against nightmarish creatures. The game’s emphasis on stealth and tracking adds depth to the hunting mechanics, making each encounter a tense and thrilling experience.

Purkeypile appears to be combining the best elements of his previous work — Skyrim‘s open-world exploration and Fallout‘s post-apocalyptic atmosphere — with fresh ideas and mechanics in his latest labor of love. If the final product lives up to the promise of its premise and demo, we could be looking at a standout title in the indie horror genre.

What do you think about The Axis Unseen‘s approach to demo progress? Shouldn’t this become the new standard for game demos? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!