Journey Beyond the Edge of the World, Markus Koepke’s atmospheric first-person adventure currently in development for PC, is making its debut at this year’s gamescom, but those unable to attend don’t have to miss out on experiencing what the game has to offer as an early demo will also be available on Steam tomorrow on August 21st.

In this first public demo, players will get an introduction into the game’s surreal retro-sci fi story set in 1953, and get the opportunity to solve an environmental puzzle that highlights the game’s rope physics amidst a treacherous storm. They will also experience the eerie atmosphere enveloping the fishing vessel they find themselves on, as they operate a mysterious device called the Temporal Resonance Localiser, allowing them to use the game’s spatial audio mechanics.

In Journey Beyond the Edge of the World you explore a storm-ravaged interactive ship, fixing broken navigational equipment, repairing leaks and solving other item-based and environmental puzzles to unlock new parts of the story, which is told through a unique combination of narrative, music and spatial audio.

The game’s low-poly, pixelated retro look is complemented by atmospheric lighting, modern visual effects, and realistic water simulation. Handcrafted sounds fully immerse you in the world through Spatial Audio, providing three-dimensional sound that works on any headphones, making for a truly unique audiovisual experience. Using the Spatial Audio features players can focus on specific sounds leading them to memories, which in turn allow them to step through time and tackle new puzzles.

The story is told through narrated ambient music tracks. Each story chapter is locked behind a puzzle. Solve the puzzle – unlock the music. With each chapter, the ship and its surroundings change, adapting to the events that take place in the music; taking you closer and closer to the Edge of the World – and beyond.

With this demo the developer is also looking for feedback, so leave your impressions on the Steam Community Page or join the Journey Beyond the Edge of the World Discord to share your thoughts.