British indie developer Gareth Damian Martin has unveiled Signet City, a first-person sci-fi game that blends 80s social realism with a distinctive monochrome art style. The trailer, released far ahead of the 2027 launch, marks a radical departure from Martin's previous works, including the acclaimed Citizen Sleeper series.
Parasite Perspective
In Signet City, players take on the role of a parasite that inhabits hosts. Martin explained: 'You start off as a parasite, and you wake up in the mind of a character called Sid, who is herself waking up in the river of this city.' The parasite can jump between characters, with each host offering unique skills and resources tied to their emotions. 'How you push them in the story, and what experiences they go through... all that affects the skills you have access to,' Martin said.
Gameplay Mechanics
Familiar elements from Citizen Sleeper remain, such as limited daily actions and a dice-based tabletop system. However, the host's emotions modify these actions. For example, getting a host angry in a pub fight might unlock the ability to kick down a door. Martin emphasized: 'I really want to make games where the narrative element and mechanical elements are not really separable from each other.'
British 80s Inspiration
The game draws heavily on British history and culture, particularly the 1980s and events like the Winter of Discontent. Martin's obsession with black and white photography shapes the art style, with hand-drawn characters against photographic environments. 'Tish Murtha had a big influence on it – I absolutely love her photographs,' Martin noted.
First-Person Challenge
As a solo developer, Martin found the first-person perspective daunting but rewarding. 'I kept coming back to the strength of being behind the eyes of the character,' they said, citing games like Dishonored and Half-Life 2 as inspirations for creating suggestive, explorable city spaces. Signet City is set for a 2027 release.
