To quote numerous recent advertisement introductions, “in these uncertain times…” it feels like all we can do is sit back and watch. And to some extent, that is the premise of the newly announced Season by Canadian developer Scavengers Studio. With a sketchbook, camera, and tape recorder, you’ll watch and record the last moments of various cultures before they’re gone. This makes for a compelling core concept: you are experiencing areas for your first time, but for their last time. With plenty of landscape to explore in this atmospheric adventure, your bicycle will allow you to navigate the area quicker, and in style.

Speaking of style, Season has plenty of it. The style is described as a minimalist approach to realism. It takes inspiration from early Japanese woodblock print artists as well as mid-20th century posters. It also has shades of Studio Ghibli with some of the characters and landscapes. And then you have the main character and her glasses, reminiscent of the popular anime trope. It also reminds me of Kevin from Sin City.

Details are still fairly sparse, but this looks to be a powerful and fitting game for the world’s current climate. With global warming, political tensions continually increasing, and mankind’s seemingly insatiable appetite for destruction, it’s only a matter of time before human life on Earth runs its course. So are we like the main character in Season, watching the end of a civilization? Or is there still time to turn it around?

While we ponder these moral and philosophical questions, we will await more information and the release of Season on PS5 and Steam.