There's a bit of a vacuum in the niche of co-op games that you can also play solo. You might remember Brothers - A Tale of Two Sons, which is probably the best example of it, though it's technically a single-player game. Well, now there's also 2D puzzle-platformer Degrees of Separation, as announced by Scottish publisher Modus Games and Norwegian developer Moondrop Studios. You can experience it both as a solo adventure and as a co-op duo. In addition to a unique take on co-op mechanics, Degrees of Separation boasts narrative design by Chris Avellone, whose game design and writing credits span two decades since Fallout 2 and Planescape: Torment to Prey and Divinity: Original Sin 2.
Degrees of Separation features dual protagonists named Ember and Rime. As their names suggest, they are each respectively capable of manipulating heat and cold. Players can experiment and interact with the environment through Ember and Rime's polar opposite skillsets as they seek their common goal. Ember can cause a river to melt in seconds, and Rime can freeze it right back again.
As players manipulate their respective temperatures through 2D levels and puzzles, the two unlikely individuals grow closer. The game tackles themes of closeness and separation through a gorgeously realized non-linear world. The leveraging of their unique talents and the approximation of their opposing energies rests at the center of this atmospheric puzzle adventure. It weaves together gameplay, narrative, and character development into an engaging emotional experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvvDHZCQA1k
Degrees of Separation launches on February 14, 2019 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam for $19.99. More information and updates will be available through the official website. The game is already available to wishlist on Steam as well.
What do you think of Degrees of Separation? Can you recall other co-op games that you can also play solo like this? Let us know in the comments below.
