When you hear that a game’s inspirations include Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill 2, Killer 7, and the Wizard of Oz, you already know that the end product is going to be something pretty wild. That’s the case for Off, an eccentric yet disturbing indie RPG that has garnered a cult following. Years before the antics of games like Undertale, Off was doing the rounds on internet forums – a bizarre, beloved, direct-download game unlike any other when it first dropped in 2008. Despite plenty of fan-translated versions over the years, it’s never been available to download on an official PC or console storefront. But that’s just changed, as Off has just arrived on Steam.
After 17 years of being circulated via Tumblr, Reddit, and the website of its lead developer, ‘Mortis Ghost,’ a proper Steam port of Off has been a long time coming. The indie game sees you take the role of The Batter, a young guy resembling a baseball player, who is tasked by a talking cat called The Judge to purify a world corrupted by ghostly enemies.
Built in RPG Maker, it mixes some classic top-down exploration and NPC interactions with a real-time combat system, with each attack and ability on different cooldown timers. The Batter is often outnumbered against groups of enemies, so the odds are stacked against him. There’s an element system as well, but instead of your usual affair of fire, water, and electricity, you’ll be dealing with the likes of metal, sugar, and meat. I told you it was eccentric.
Despite the minimalist visuals, it manages to tell a strange but surprisingly dark story with multiple endings. Each zone presents different challenges but all of them have an eerie, unsettling, surreal atmosphere to them.
While this re-release of the game stays pretty true to the original, there are some differences to be aware of. The combat system features a new critical hit system. There’s a new help feature that can point you in the right direction if you’re confused (which is easily done in a game like Off). There are also some new areas to explore that weren’t in the original, plus some bonus bosses that have been designed by Mortis Ghost.
Off is available on Steam right now with an introductory 15% discount, making it just $12.74 / £10.87. You can grab it right here if you want to relive the madness or experience it for the first time. This new version of the game is also available on Nintendo Switch, should you prefer.
It’s amazing to see such an iconic game not only get a re-release but finally reach the broader audience a platform like Steam can bring. If you love narrative-driven, retro-feeling RPGs, this one’s for you. Also check out some of the best story games around for more thought-provoking, unique narratives.
If you have any fond memories of Off (or any other classic indies, for that matter) go ahead and share them in our community Discord server. Let’s reminisce.
