Wayward Strand now available on Switch

The team at Ghost Pattern is ecstatic to announce their lovingly crafted simultaneously-told narrative adventure, Wayward Strand is now available for Switch. The inaugural title from the Australian indie studio, Wayward Strand is inspired by interactive theater: characters and their stories play out in real-time and it’s up to the player to choose which characters to talk with or stories to follow.

The curious piece, inspired by interactive theatre, centers on 14-year-old Casey, intrepid teenage journalist, as she embarks on her first trip to the flying ship-turned-hospital above a small Australian town in the summer of 1978. There, she has limited time to help the staff, get to know the patients and investigate the mysteries of the ship itself, as multiple storylines play out in real-time.

Once aboard the ship, prepare to meet a sizeable cast of characters who go about their lives guided by their own desires, schedules and will, sometimes talking with Casey, and sometimes with each other. Players can choose who Casey will interact with, or not, having her engage directly or eavesdrop on the unsuspecting workers or patients aboard. With over 20,000 lines of recorded voiceover dialogue—rivalling even some of the biggest AAA games on the market—there are a plethora of interesting conversations to be had (or overheard).

Players can follow their curiosity at any given moment. While a single playthrough is a complete experience of one version of the story, the developers note that it can take at least a dozen playthroughs to begin to see the full picture. Wayward Strand covers many complex topics, according to creators, including empathy, intergenerational relationships, care and neglect, as well as exploring the day-to-day lives of older people and care workers.