From Lead Designers/Writers of The Witcher, New Story-Based Travel Game "Wanderlust" for iOS

Arthur Ganszyniec (lead narrative designer on The Witcher) and Jacek Brzezinski (project lead on The Witcher and game dev for Hitman) decided while working on The Witcher project that they wanted to bring a different kind of story to the world. A story based in the real world, and inspired by their love of travel and storytelling, that can be taken in as a whole experience -- something that takes the best of reading novels and interesting tales and makes it interactive.

Wanderlust begins in a small bistro in Hanga Roa - where a group of travelers is discussing the tales that brought them to the bistro, and as they tell the tale, you get to watch it unfold -- helping them make decisions along the way. The concept itself is really cool, and the design and gameplay look solid, albeit different than your usual mobile game. But what is most interesting is how this project seems to mark a trend for storytelling in the technological age. 

This style of combining storytelling and technology has captured the minds of artists, performers, writers, and storytellers for the entire technological era. Netflix now has interactive stories that unfold like a choose your own adventure book -- like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and You Vs. Wild. There are all manner of storytelling apps that let you make decisions and experience the benefits or consequences of those decisions. And Wanderlust Travel Stories aims to accomplish the same goal.

Whether it achieves that lofty attempt of combining the literary with the video game in a way that makes us feel something -- the way a really good RPG or a really good movie or novel can often make us feel something -- you'll have to be the judge. But The Witcher was a storytelling feat in itself, so I wouldn't bet against them.

You can check out the trailer below, and wishlist the game on Steam.