Steam drops open-world freebie that's a cozy take on Naughty Dog's Uncharted

Amid this prolonged Uncharted drought, an antidote has surfaced in the form of upcoming indie open-world adventure, Mayday: The Survival Island.

All signs point to Naughty Dog secretly having a new Uncharted instalment in development alongside its announced new IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet but it’s a rumour that has to be taken with a pinch of salt for now, despite having plenty of evidence behind it.

If you’re after something that taps into that same adventuring ilk, then you may want to try out Mayday: The Survival Island which has certainly caught my eye after being revealed at the recent PAX West.

Developed by the three-person Brazilian team Pequi Studios, Mayday: The Survival Island looks to us like a perfect blend of Uncharted and Stardew Valley.

It features the latter’s pixel art visuals and penchant for cozy gameplay, while allowing players to uncover secrets, ancient ruins, and time-forgotten beings on a desolate and lost archipelago.

You just know that had Nathan Drake heard of this locale, he’d have chartered a course straight to it.

Uncover an ancient civilisation in cozy adventure Mayday: The Survival Island

indie.io

“After a mysterious crash, you awaken alone on a remote island—injured, disoriented, and surrounded by untamed wilderness,” the synopsis begins.

“Mayday: The Survival Island is an open-world survival crafting game where your mission is to build, adapt, and uncover the truth behind your arrival.

“Gather resources, craft tools, and shape your own survival strategy. Hunt wild animals, fish the shoreline, grow crops, and build a homestead to sustain yourself.

“As your base grows stronger, venture across a sprawling archipelago full of secrets waiting to be unearthed.”

In total, Mayday: The Survival Island features an impressive 24 islands to explore, each with its own unique biome, resources, and threats.

Developers have teased “misty swamps”, “sun-bleached beaches”, “forgotten ruins”, and “ancient cemeteries”.

You’ll partake in the usual cozy survival fare, establishing a base, farming, crafting, and more, all while simultaneously enjoying an adventure of pure discovery.

That’s because it turns out you're being watched on these islands. Symbols and totems are present everywhere you go, signalling a lost civilisation just waiting to be discovered.

As your journey progresses, you’ll soon discover that it’s no accident that you ended up on these tropical shores. The question is, can you escape them?

Mayday: The Survival Island can be explored at your own pace. There’s no linear path so the 24 islands are yours to work through as you please.

READ MORE: Uncharted 4 Cut Content Surfaces Online, Changes Everything

A free demo is now available on Steam ahead of the game’s launch this November

You don’t have to wait long to get your hands on the full release of Mayday: The Survival Island which is set to land on PC via Steam from November 2.

Before then, however, you can enjoy a free trial which has recently gone live on Steam; it’s one we’re excited to check out ourselves.

The short trial offers access to the game’s key gameplay loop, offering you ample opportunity to see if this is one you want to wishlist.

“What I am proudest of is the way the gameplay and the story weave together, and that players get to choose where and when they push the story forward,” artist and narrative designer Daniel Siqueira said of Mayday: The Survival Island.

“I am looking forward to seeing how people decide to survive, and to watching them find all the things we tucked away for them.”

It’s very early days for the just-announced indie game, but reception to its announcement trailer is positive.

“Brother I’m so in,” one fan wrote, while another added, “Looks great.”

It’s always nice to see the typical Stardew Valley formula infused with something that sets it apart from the crowd.