After a failed reverse engineering experiment, our unfortunate protagonist finds himself trapped in an ancient, biomechanical world full of imaginative devices, mysterious technology and peculiar inhabitants.
Bionic Bay is not a story-focused game, but there is still a clear tale to be told.
This is achieved through a few cutscenes, environmental design, and hidden secrets in the levels.
Target platforms
Console, PC.
Appeal
Sci-Fi Platformer, Action, Adventure
Positioning
Releasing first half of 2025 on Steam, Epic Games Store, and at least one console.
Audience
1. Bionic Bay will appeal people who enjoy science fiction themes, futuristic settings and imaginative gameplay mechanics.
2. Bionic Bay offers a rare combination for gamers who appreciate the challenge and mechanics of platformer games but also for who are drawn to visually stunning games and appreciate artistic design.
3. Controls and mechanics are simple to use yet rich in depth, meaning Bionic Bay is easily accessible to a large demographic of people.
4. Independent Family Gaming Database, which specializes in accessibility, evaluates the expected content rating for Bionic Bay as PEGI 7.
Bionic Bay is a fairly linear game. While some parts of the story will be automatically discovered as players proceed deeper into Bionic Bay, there is also a lot waiting to be uncovered. Hidden areas and secrets are scattered around the levels.
There are lots of platformers out there but what really sets Bionic Bay a part is the extremely physics based gameplay; Environments will burn, break, bend, dismantle, freeze and explode. All this is combined with hand crafted levels full of creative devices, puzzles and traps.
Classic sci-fi tropes like time travel, teleportation and gravity are approached in unique ways. As an extremely physics based game, Bionic Bay will also make its special spin on liquids with liquid nitrogen, hot lava and of course antigravity pudding.
Our ultimate goal is to make players experience something new in every corner, through out the game.
The unique visual look in Bionic Bay is achieved by using strong contrasts with lights and shadows. Additionally, the camera works dynamically throughout the game.
The goal is to create a constantly shifting visual experience where the visual look and game mechanics are always changing, making everything you come across feel fresh and intriguing.
Core mechanic is a unique Swap tool which allows players to experience a platformer in a new way.
It’s a Portal gun type of BIG feature that you can build a game around.
Players can tag any loose object in a world. After that you can swap the position with the object.
The object and the player retain their inertia. This creates huge amount of possibilities in level design; Swap can be used to defend, attack or to move from one place to another.
Bionic Bay will have 20 levels divided in to three main sections:
Sewers, Conservatory & Highsky.
Themes for the progression are:
From dark to light.
From deep to high.
From warm to cold.
From low-tech to high-tech.
Level of detail and the feel of scale in the environments will be unparalleled to anything seen in 2D platformers.
Bionic Bay starts in the dark sewers. Full of ancient machinery, peculiar inhabitants and deadly traps.
Biomechanical swamps. This section adds more organic environments and more advanced technology.
Further you go, higher (and colder) you get.
The final section of the game will introduce a new core mechanic along with unique high tech devices and enemies.
Design approach for our main character is “Agile but Fragile”. Basic controls for movement are simple: Left, right, jump & dash. Movement is smooth, fast & precise.
In the beginning he will be a normal human being but will quickly gain exceptional elasticity and speed. Soon after he’ll have a new ability by discovering the Swap tool.
Later a new core mechanic is introduced and also a totally new high-tech vehicle will roll out.
Bionic Bay is easy to just pick up and play. Controls are simple and precise. However the mechanics and the level design are very ambitious so there is a quite high skill ceiling.
Beginning of the game is crucial when teaching players to gradually become better players.
There are holograms as tutorials to teach player the basics without using distractions like pop-ups or pausing the game
Checkpoint system is very carefully executed. If you die, you will never have to go too much back to try again.
Bionic Bay will also include a competitive online mode.
Events and challenges will be updated daily to keep players engaged and coming back long after the single-player adventure is completed.
Online events will include classic speedrun races but also lots of more creative challenges.
They will open and close daily to encourage players to return regularly.
The unique Swap mechanic introduces a fresh and innovative perspective to online racing games.
Distinct use of paintinglike pixel art with remarkable sense of details.
Unparalleled use of light and shadow creates seamless, organic environments.
Inspirations: 80’s analog Sci-Fi, Roger Deakins, Oddworld & Tomb Raider.