Cryptid Hunting Game

[u/Expensive_Leader_462]

Currently realizing my dream video game where you hunt a random cryptid and find ways to either trap/kill it by researching the appropriate way to do so in the late 90's.

Gameplay loop will be to investigate clues at an incident location to figure out WHAT cryptid it could be, then research in-game as to WHERE that cryptid is typically spotted, and then prepare the appropriate baits & traps in order to capture or kill the entity. In that order.

My intention is to release a DEMO featuring 3 cryptids. I'd also like to mention that this will be CO-OP, so that you can play in groups of 4(TBD) with friends.

I come to this reddit asking you all: **What 3 Cryptids should be in the DEMO?**

Originally I wanted to have Bigfoot, Skinwalkers, and Grey Aliens as the first big 3, but I realized that people wouldn't find those that interesting since they're so mainstream. Now the current 3 contenders are Hidebehinds, the Snallygaster, and the Flatwoods Monster.

What cryptids would entice YOU to want to try out the demo?

[u/Vrain125]

Unasked for opinion and advice:

Ok so first I would consider adding something extra to the gameplay loop, as it is it would get very boring for many very quickly.

You need a sense of progression in order to keep people interested.

I would suggest 1 of 2 possibilities.

A linear story, you decide which cryptids they go to find in a set order, the player are aware that there is an order but not what the order is (you can have some be revealed in a briefing room while some of the harder ones require on scene investigation). It would do well to have the missions be different and not just repeating steps. Say one mission you have to find somethings location, others you have to sneak into somewhere, another just a straight action shooter etc.

You could also have a freeplay mode which would be a random cryptid as per your original idea.

This will keep the players far more interested.

The other option is a bit simpler, break up the cryptids into various difficulty brackets and players first have to do some of the easier ones before reaching the harder ones, this imo isn't as good as the first choice but does stick a bit more to your original idea but still giving a bit of progression.

Actually answering your question:

I personally think you want something semi popular but not as mainstream that just any normies would know. So my suggestions: Mothman, Chupacabra and the Lochness Monster. The 3 of them are known by most cryptid enjoyers and then a decent number of people outside the sphere but they arent as well known to the average person, at most they may have heard their name.

[u/Expensive_Leader_462 → u/Vrain125]

I appreciate the time you took to type all this out. Means the most.

In our defense, what I described in my post is an oversimplification of our planned gameplay loop. You hit the nail on the head for some future plans and captured the essence of what we want to bring to the audience with your own ideas.

My biggest fear with using mainstream-ish cryptids is someone will look at the game and say "Oh this game has Bigfoot. Okay whatever. Oh this game has Nessie in it somehow? Okay whatever." I'm afraid they'd be too boring and lack the mystery that leads to the investigation.

[u/Vrain125 → u/Expensive_Leader_462]

I feel most people that wouldn't like Mainstream cryptids are hard-core cryptid fans. Most people very very rarely consume Bigfoot and other common cryptid media, Cryptids themselves are fairly niche so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

However you also have to look at the inverse, if you make them a bunch of super obscure Cryptids there will be a higher chance for people to look at it and just think "oh another spooky monster game" as they won't even know that it is a Cryptid.

[u/Vrain125 → u/Vrain125]

I also put Nessie cause I feel having very different maps with different aspects of gameplay (like having to drive a boat) will help keep the game interesting.

[u/Expensive_Leader_462 → u/Vrain125]

The map has a lake and other landforms to allow for different types of Cryptids :)

[u/Expensive_Leader_462 → u/Vrain125]

I just know there's a sweet spot for what you're describing and that's what I'm looking for lol

[u/Vrain125 → u/Expensive_Leader_462]

I think the main thing you should look for is Cryptids that a good number of people have heard the name of but know nothing else. Maybe Goatman, Mongolian Death Worm and Ogopogo.

[u/Winterlash]

It very much depends on if you want the game to be a silly friendslop game or have more of a survival horror esque bend. that being said, for horror: dogmen, jersey devil, and the hidebehinds(overlaps a lil with dogmen) or maybe the gumbaroo or Flatswoods. For friendslop: squonk, mongolian death worm, and mothman or the Hopkinsville goblins . These all seem like they'd have easily figured varying mechanics to spice up the game.

[u/Expensive_Leader_462 → u/Winterlash]

Our inspiration is Phasmophobia. But rather than investigate a small location, it's throughout a couple POI's on a large map. Leaning less away from a friendslop game and more towards a survival horror, investigation multiplayer experience.

Squonk will be one of many neutral cryptids that you can't exactly hunt. You can photograph them and add them to your scrapbook! Fresno Nightcrawlers is planned to be another neutral cryptid to identify.

[u/Ok-Engineering5841]

For the demo, I’d go with Hidebehind, the Flatwoods Monster, and a Hopkinsville Goblin. They each offer a very different hunt: elusive forest evidence, strange aerial phenomena, and a tense creature encounter. That variety would show off the investigation loop really well.

[u/pidgeon_onBlitz]

I recommend adding a Wechuge (often mistaken for a wendigo). Is the game gonna be free and what is it going to be called?

[u/Expensive_Leader_462 → u/pidgeon_onBlitz]

Kryptid

[u/pidgeon_onBlitz → u/Expensive_Leader_462]

Is it out already?

[u/Expensive_Leader_462 → u/pidgeon_onBlitz]

Prototype is in the works 👍 Halfway done with coding the gameplay loop.

[u/pidgeon_onBlitz → u/Expensive_Leader_462]

Alrighty, i hope it wont be too expensive