Social deduction games experienced a surge of popularity in 2020, when titles likeAmong Usallowed friends locked down in separate homes to still meet up for hijinks and fun. Innersloth’s game, which originally released in 2018, became a phenomenon on streaming sites like YouTube and Twitch, and will soon be getting ported to consoles withthreeAmong Uscollector’s editions. It was only a matter of time before the success ofAmong Usincited a flurry of clones of the game’s winning formula, like the upcomingDubiumby Mumo Studio that was announced just last week.
Based in Seoul, Korea, the founders of Mumo Studio have notable credentials, having worked ongames likeBlack Desert Onlineby Pearl AbyssandDead to Rights.The five-player social deduction gameDubiumwill be the studio’s first indie title. Set in a sci-fi universe of the near future, players will take on the role of either a Frontier or Traitor, all attempting to escape from an abandoned space station. Frontiers are the equivalent of crewmates inAmong Us,working together to repair solar panels to power the escape pod, while the Traitor sabotages their work and takes them out one by one.
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While on the surfaceAmong UsandDubiumhave much in common, Mumo Studio’s game features a 3D, exaggerated art style with fleshed out animations. The gadgets used by each Frontier or Traitor can be upgraded using rewards earned through gameplay, allowing players to customize their character to suit their play style. The game is also being developed with streaming in mind and will include aTwitch extensionthat lets viewers suggest actions or even make decisions for the streamer. And even if the space station’s crew hails from different locations around the world,Dubium’sbuilt-in voice lines and expressions will make it easy for players to communicate.
For gamers eager to jump into a new experience similar toAmong Usbefore 2022,First Class Troubleis another social deduction gamethat released on November 1 for PC and PlayStation, where it launched as a PlayStation Plus title for PS4 and PS5. Developer Invisible Walls also went a different route with the game’s graphics, creating an atmosphere extremely reminiscent of theBioShockseries.
Dubiumwill release in Early Access on PC in 2022.
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