Unto the Aurora

Unto the Aurora is a short historical game set in 1597 in north-east Scotland, during the height of the country's witchcraft panics. Accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death, you escape with help from a mysterious entity and set sail across a hazardous ocean passage toward a reported safe haven. You navigate and steer your ship while trying to survive the crossing without freezing or starving.

The setting

The game draws on folklore, historical manuscripts and scholarship about the period, with elements of fantasy and horror. You explore a handcrafted oceanic world with distinctive flora, fauna and events.

Sailing and survival

Sailing uses a physics-based system that simulates wind, waves, currents and buoyancy. Changing weather—including wind, rain, snow, ice and lightning—can help or hinder your passage. To guard against cold and starvation, you can warm yourself by the stove, limit your exposure to the elements and fish.

The experience is intended to take most players 60–90 minutes to complete. The game saves at the end of each chapter.