It’s rare that you get a studio that tells you that their game might not be for you. But 10 Chambers, once an indie studio and now 100 strong, prides itself on crafting a game that isn’t for everyone.
GTFO Developers Warn Their Hardcore Co-Op Shooter Isn’t for Everyone
GTFO is a little like caviar. It’s bitter, rich, and not for everyone.
Defined by its motto, “Work together or die together,” this shooter co-op made waves in the hardcore community because it absolutely refuses to pull its punches. Even in the early missions, it’s easy to get swarmed by the terrifying monsters called Sleepers, ruining a run that you might have spent an hour slogging through.
And yet, for some, the challenge is what makes it so addicting.
Simon Viklund, the narrative designer behind GTFO, pulled back the veil on the mentality behind GTFO in a presentation at the Unity office. 10 Chambers crafted GTFO intentionally to be “hardcore and hostile”, with the mentality of, “f*ck it, this is how we do it,” throughout GTFO’s development. And if that appeals to you, GTFO might be the game for you.
“We had such a singular vision [when making GTFO]. It’s just so unapologetically what it is. If you make something for everyone, it’s for no one, and it becomes sort of watered down. The fact that it’s so extreme just makes it resonate with people who are into it,” Simon Viklund stated in an interview.
GTFO offers players an intense co-op horror survival experience set in a grim sci-fi world where you and three others are sent to retrieve items. You do so at the behest of a mysterious entity called The Warden, who is working towards an even more enigmatic goal.
However, gathering these items is no easy task. Monstrous creatures called Sleepers are scattered throughout the subterranean floors. And while you’re equipped with two guns and a melee weapon, strategy and stealth should always be at the forefront of your mind. That’s because Sleepers come in all stripes. Some clump together in terrifying, disfigured packs. Others are massive and can quickly end your run.
The only way to survive against these enemies is to successfully sneak past them, kill them before they warn the others, or hold out against waves of them. Though every fight might be your last, as ammo and health are in short supply. But the adrenaline of making it to the end makes it all worth it. At least two players have gotten married after meeting (and surviving) a run in GTFO.
And with the final installment of the story released, Simon Viklund is excited for players to see the end of the story 10 Chambers has worked on for the past two years.
“I hope the players are really excited because we put a lot of effort into this last chapter, with integrating the level design and the narrative, and introducing a few new sort of storytelling techniques into it. So I think it’s going to be a very dignified, a very proper farewell, to GTFO.”
Players who are intrigued by GTFO’s hardcore gameplay and layered-story will be able to try out GTFO for free on December 7 for a weekend. And if you opt to purchase the game, you’ll gain access to all the previous episodes, including GTFO’s final episode, Duality. There are dozens upon dozens of hours’ worth of content and missions to tackle, and the Discord remains a thriving and accepting place for new players.
