Living out the final few weeks of a civilian trapped in a war-torn environment, scavenging for food and supplies whilst constantly trying to stay on the right side of sane might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of subject matter that could be in a game, but 11 bit Studios' latest effort is a masterclass in proving otherwise. Do you remember the first game that questioned the very fibre of your moral centre? Last year's Papers, Please took a graphically restrictive look at what it's like being a border control officer, deciding fates of citizens based off whether or not their papers were in order, and it did so to a staggeringly impactful effect. In War Of Mine you'll play as three randomly-generated civilians, each with their own personalities that you'll get used to as time goes by. You'll need to spend the day time in your makeshift bombed-out home area, cooking food, preparing places to sleep, clearing out debris and generally looking to improve the place. By night it's time to decide who's going to stay on guard, who gets to sleep - and more importantly - who gets to go out and scavenge for supplies. On said scavenges you'll encounter other characters doing the same as you, and it's up to you how to handle them. Depending on how pushed to the brink and starving for food you are it might be time to barter with someone like a more hospitable priest, but as time goes by a gang may move into the church, making the approach far riskier - but by then you could be willing to take them on just to reach that next day. Throw in some horrific choices we hope to only ever make in fiction such as deciding whether or not to raid innocent peoples' homes or steal from the truly vulnerable, and this well-crafted, meticulously laboured-over effort from a new developer out there to prove themselves has done exactly that. Which titles have you enjoyed over the year that haven't got as much coverage as you'd like? Let everyone know in the comments!
