World Setting
The world of DREADMOOR is set in the Submerged Land, a post-apocalyptic environment shaped by rising waters and radiation. The landscape is a hybrid of familiar terrain and submerged ruins, where fragments of civilization remain visible above the waterline. Nature in this submerged territory has adapted in unexpected ways rather than dying out. Various creatures inhabit these waters, ranging from decaying swamplands to flooded human ruins.
Catastrophic Origins
The calamity began when an experimental device intended to manipulate Earth’s magnetic fields was triggered during a period of desperation. The activation shifted the poles, altered global climates, fractured the continental crust, and sank substantial landmasses under the ocean. Subsequent industrial shutdowns abandoned toxic chemicals and radioactive materials that gradually poisoned surrounding waters. These seeping contaminants produced the Sea Blight, a living waterborne infection that alters structures and living organisms.
Core Loop
Gameplay revolves around an interconnected cycle of fishing, exploration, survival, and combat. Exploration involves searching for materials, shelters, new fishing areas, and remnants of abandoned settlements. Survival mechanics require tracking radiation exposure, physical fatigue, hunger, and inventory space. Players utilize a hook gun to grab onto items that might be useful.
Vessel Navigation
The boat operates as a fuel-powered vessel rather than a sailing craft, requiring fuel supplies to keep moving. A first-person perspective restricts vision strictly to what lies ahead of the boat’s pilot. Audio cues alert pilots to nearby dangers because the boat lacks underwater cameras or rearward visibility.