Shelter 2
Shelter 2 is an open world survival video game developed by Might and Delight for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. The game is a sequel to 2013's Shelter. It was released on March 9, 2015. The game follows the life of a mother lynx, starting as a pregnant animal, giving birth and continuing in to a journey of parenthood where nurturing her cubs is paramount for survival. Shelter 2 includes more elaborate gameplay features than its predecessor, such as stamina, different types of movements, jumps and a variety of prey to kill. Besides hunting there are several maternal and hunting features, such as calling the cubs closer, smell for prey, making sure they drink water from rivers and lifting and carrying your cubs from harm’s way.
What it feels like
The game treats its maternal protagonist and cubs with warmth and care despite the harsh setting, emphasizing gentleness in nurture. The emotional journey of motherhood and survival is played sincerely without irony or mockery. An underlying wistfulness about the struggle and fragility of survival in an unforgiving natural world permeates the experience.
What it's about
Raising, protecting, and nurturing cubs is the central mechanic and narrative focus of the entire game. Surviving in a harsh tundra environment and ensuring offspring survival against wilderness threats is the primary challenge. The natural world, ecology, and animal existence in vast landscapes form the setting and subject matter.
How it plays
Managing hunger through hunting, hydration, and protecting cubs from harm are core survival mechanics. Hunting for food, managing stamina, and allocating effort between self-care and cub-care requires careful resource budgeting. Hunting prey and killing animals for food is a core interactive loop of the game.
How it looks and sounds
The game uses illustrated 2D art style as suggested by user tags describing it as colorful and atmospheric. User tags mention 'Side Scroller,' indicating a side-view perspective for traversal and action. The visual design emphasizes essential shapes and natural landscapes without cluttered detail.
How it's structured
The game is explicitly designed as a single-player experience with no multiplayer component. The player navigates vast open landscapes in a non-linear, explorable world as the core environment. The world is deliberately authored with designed landscapes and maternal journey rather than procedurally generated.
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