The Indigo Parallel
MY NEW GAME
My new game is called Absolute Insanity here is the Steam page:
will be a playtest soon, stay tuned!
Update 3.72
- Adjustments to certain game objects to optimize flow.
- Randomization of some objects in some levels to create variation.
- Soda Level doors open up more often.
- More levels fade into black before moving to a new scene.
- Fixed an issue that stopped replays of the New Tokyo Path more than once per game session.
- All audio gets paused when the menu is brought up.
- Increased hitbox size on the “next bot” in the backrooms level.
Bugs Fixes.
UPDATE 3.6
Cursor locks to the center of the screen when game is focused.
Other Settings in Menu Added with:
- Mouse Sensitivity
- FOV (Field of View) Settings
- Monochromatic mode for those with color Sensitivity
- Insanity Level (with 4 selections)
Weird stuff happens in the mines once you input a special code somewhere.
“Flashbang” transitions between scenes removed, now it fades from a black screen.
x2 New Branches that open on certain conditions.
I hid a horse image in the game.
Unique things happen when insanity mode is higher than 1.
Adjustments to when some branches open up.
Photosensitive Warning at the start of game.
Bug Fixes.
FREE SOUNDTRACK
The Indigo Parallel OST is now available for FREE: to the full soundtrack here on YouTube:
UPDATE 3.0
New update featuring additional branching pathways, new music, UI pause menu revamp, and more!
UPDATE AND DEMO
Update 2.0 is live plus a Demo
A new major update is live and a free demo is available on both Steam and itch.io
link: Updates in the works
There is a massive update I am working on for the game. Including adding additional branching pathways. Here is a sneak peak:
in The Indigo Parallel
music in the game was made by 4 musicians.
J Ryan Halpenny:
The Love Of Noise:
NOTES
Thank you
I want to thank everyone who has supported me. It took 5 years to make this game and I’ve poured my soul into it. Your support means the world to me.
Versions and Updates
Versions of the game will be shown on the computer when booting the game, and on the application name at runtime, example: “The Indigo Parallel 1.81”. Minor updates, including hot fixes, will increase the version like this: 1.81 —> 1.82. Major updates including new content and branching pathways increase the version like this: 1.81 —> 1.9.
Bug Reports
Please report any bugs to the bug-report channel on Discord TRAILER
New Trailer is live
The Indigo Parallel comes out in a month so here is a new trailer for the game! It is now featured on the steam page.
Here is the trailer on YouTube:
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Join the Reddit Page!
The Indigo Parallel has an official Reddit page. Join it here: the Discord Server!
If you are interested in the game, the progress and its development, here is the official Discord server: server is also the place were I get feedback from testers to improve the game.
Feel free to join!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
How The Expanse turned me into a Game Developer
I started with being a VR designer on The Expanse TV show in 2017 (season 3) onwards to making my own games. For both game development and VR simulations (for TV) I use Unity as the gaming engine.
spent 4 years on The Indigo Parallel and I am very passionate about it. While carefully listening to feedback from testers I strive to make the best and most unique game possible. I also want to thank all The Expanse fans who are showing interest in my game.
About the Game
Inspired by the captivating visuals and surreal gameplay of LSD: Dream Emulator and the narrative experimentation of The Stanley Parable, The Indigo Parallel offers a fascinating, immersive experience that is both strange and exhilarating. What truly sets The Indigo Parallel apart is its procedural nature. The game changes dynamically depending on the choices you make, so every playthrough is completely unique.
In addition to its mind-bending visuals and compelling narrative, The Indigo Parallel is also filled with simple but interesting puzzles that challenge your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking. These puzzles are woven seamlessly into the game’s narrative, creating a cohesive and immersive experience that keeps you engaged and intrigued throughout your journey.
Each element of this game, from the hieroglyphics to game play, the textures to the models, has been created through years of passion by a solo developer.
Be prepared, this game is weird.
Key features:
- Non-linear gameplay with branching pathways, filled with hidden features.
- Levels that are altered by choices made, making each playthrough different.
- Beautiful and immersive environmental storytelling.
- Stunning soundtrack featuring music by J Ryan Halpenny and Decima1.
Game Discussion
Steam User 19
I like calling these dream sim games "a theatre of thoughts"
There is cohesion between scenes like there are between dreams.
Trying to find the connections between them, is understanding the dreamer, and possibly yourself.
If you find enjoyment in the absurd, surreal and abstract, I can absolutely recommend
However, performance was rough on any settings, and had to adjust on my end to get a smooth framerate. Possibly because I'm on AMD, but just an FYI
Steam User 8
I've only got an hour in this game so far.
I don't even think I could call it a game.
This is one of the most abstract and surreal experiences I've ever taken a part of and it's genuinely art.
The liminality, the eeriness, the atmosphere. It's a sum that's greater than its parts.
I could not and would not recommend this to everybody. It's not a game. It's something you have to sit and experience. But I've never played or seen something quite like this.
If you're going to buy and play this, keep a notepad handy and make sure you keep track of the translation key.
Keep making games, Chris. This is incredible. I can feel every part of what you're trying to convey and it's beautiful. I'll be back to explore more. Thank you for this art that you've created.
Steam User 3
So, this is one of those games that I almost feel more comfortable calling an "art experience" more than a game. Don't get me wrong, there ARE gameplay elements and I am not the one to say "walking sims" don't belong in the video game canon, but this feels different than that.
As far as I am currently aware, there is no end to this game. I ran through branching paths for four and a half hours and never really got a grip on what one might need to do to "conclude" this experience. I got to a place where it felt like the story I was unraveling met a decent break off and felt like that was where my time with this would end.
I did not play around with the different insanity modes or anything like that, so there is a decent possibility that I missed a chunk of material. C'est la vie, that's the nature of experiences like this. I also have never played Yume Nikki or LSD: Dream Emulator so any comparison points that others have drawn can't connect with me.
I think the art, music, and soundscapes in this are stunning. They are deeply surreal, as you might expect, and kind of lulled me into a trance like state. I was legitimately scared a few times! I think that speaks to how immersed I got in the shifting landscape, so flowers for that.
The narrative pieces I was able to pick up were compelling and emotional. I stuck around re-treading paths I had already gone through to see if there were any more kernels I could pick up because I am loathe to miss out on narrative. That's where the frustration point for me came in: I am still not entirely sure there is an ending to this. I think if I was able to give myself permission to finish the experience when I felt I had had my fill, I would not have gotten as cranky as I did in the final 20 minutes or so.
So I guess that's all I can really say to people considering checking this out: give yourself permission to explore without need for conclusion. I haven't experienced a lot of games in this vein, so it was a good learning experience for me in that regard!
This experience simultaneously feels like a dream, a nightmare, and a webpage you stumbled upon on the family computer at 4 am when you were supposed to be asleep. Take that as you will.
Steam User 4
OH MY EFFING GOD THIS IS THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED. Every respawn introduces a surprise, I honestly didn't know what to expect next and I like it. Kudos to Chris for all those creative map textures, surreal surreal. I've been playing for 3 hours and when i check people's walkthrough of this game, how the heck there are still sequences I've never seen in the game, when does it end, kill me.
Steam User 2
This is such an amazing game, truly the most weird game ever made!
Such nice feet, Chris!
Also, when will you add a mushroom with hands?
...
Day.
Twelve.
Also, nice game!
When I played it for the first time, my dog started speaking chinese!
:D
-Wet Feet
Steam User 8
absurd... beautifully absurd... I also turned japanese halfway through... would recommend to fellow nihonjins and absurdity lovers. escapism is truly best found in the absurd. thank you indigo parallel. I shall live out the rest of my life absurd and japanese
Steam User 0
Really solid walking simulator in the vein of Yume Nikki & LSD Dream Simulator.
Pros:
- cryptic storytelling that will make understanding the lore a pure challenge
- psychedelic visuals & randomness. Each playthrough will be different from your last
- non-linear progression
- dissonant soundtrack that reinforces the fever dream feeling of this game
- a game of every genre. Vaporwave driving simulator, star fox, FPS...
Cons:
- we can't rebind the keys. For those who don't use the QWERTY layout, they would need to rely on the arrow keys. And for myself (a disabled player), it also means putting my hand in a uncomfortable and painful position.
- randomness (yes it's also a con). During my first playthrough, I was stuck for a whole hour on the car minigame because each of my previous runs added so many stupid things: PS2-esque fog, psychedelic texture. I couldn't see all the enemies / mimiboss and missed all powerups.
- the game is dark. Unfortunately the brightness slider only affects the exposition of the whole game. It will not change the in+game lighting.
- no official gamepad support & the joystick sensibility for Steam Input is so high
- not so great level design. Could have been way better