Ever wanted the thrill of working for a shadowy government organization? Need to Know is an upcoming game where you take action spying on the average citizen, analyzing their life, and seeing if they’re a threat. The game’s preview boasts of chapter-based storytelling, and meaningful moral quandaries, as it comments on something that we’re all familiar with in the internet age: government surveillance.
need to know

The concept is pretty interesting, but seems like a logical idea in an age where being scrutinized by the government is a common concern. Though it seems like most of the time, this topic is dealt with through comedy. The prying policies of the NSA has been spoofed on everything from The Simpsons, to memes compilations on Buzzfeed. Sometimes you have to laugh to deal with the very real threat of invasions of privacy right?

need to know

Need to Know will apparently have an increasingly dark and disturbing narrative, which could provide a very serious look into this issue. But it won’t be all serious, as the kickstarter preview notes that there will be some laughs, as well as more emotional and intense moments.

need to know

Putting the responsibility of people’s lives into the player’s hands isn’t something new in gaming, but I can’t think of an instance where it will be done quite like it is in Need to Know. From what’s been shown, the civilians are represented through cards of information and internet search histories. It’s a weird mix of letting you know overly intimate details, yet being completely impersonal. It’s easy to do the right thing when you’re face to face with a game character, but when they’re just another name in a list? With all the tough choices that are sure to be on the line, I’m already wondering if I’ll do any better than Big Brother.

Need to Know’s kickstarter isn’t live yet, but it goes live tomorrow, February 9th.

About the Author

Megan Myrick

Megan is an avid gamer, writer, and aspiring novelist. In between working towards a degree in psychology and looking for upcoming games to get hyped about, she enjoys watching silly cooking competitions and rereading books she’s probably read at least four times already. Megan’s favorite games change often, but some longtime favorites include Earthbound, Final Fantasy VII, and the Legend of Zelda series. She gets too attached to characters, reads a lot of theories, and is easily startled by jump scares. Megan is most interested in games with a good story and atmosphere, and she leans towards sci-fi and fantasy genres.

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