The Thing That Happened on Steam: An Indie Survival Experience
Developed by a small two person indie team using Unreal Engine 5, The Thing That Happened is an open world, third-person action adventure survival game that places players directly into a harsh, post-apocalyptic environment. The game follows the journey of Marcus Draven, a lone survivor who arrives in the desolate city of Jericho. Once a bustling metropolis, Jericho has been reduced to a haunting ghost town characterized by crumbling architecture, overgrown vegetation, and an eerie, lingering silence.
The core gameplay loop heavily emphasizes exploration, scavenging, and resource management. Players must scour abandoned buildings and forgotten corners of the city to gather essential supplies, food, and crafting components necessary to stay alive. Because every resource matters, players are forced to carefully weigh what they carry versus what they leave behind, heightening the tension of navigating the hazardous wasteland.
Combat and progression offer deep customization options to help players handle the various threats lurking within the ruins. The game features a variety of firearms complete with modular attachments, alongside a comprehensive close-combat skill tree that lets survivors tailor their fighting style. Whether players prefer engaging enemies from a distance or stepping into close-quarters skirmishes, the mechanics encourage tactical decision-making and character growth.
Built as a passionate passion project, the developers have been transparent about utilizing external marketplace assets and AI assisted tools for certain background tasks, such as programming assistance, text, and music creation, while ensuring all elements were reviewed and refined by hand. While it carries the indie charm and occasional rough edges typical of small-scale studio developments, its atmospheric world design, dramatic lighting, and focus on classic survival mechanics offer an engaging experience for fans of post-apocalyptic exploration and independent game development.
