Developer Mardonpol has announced the release of Project Castaway, a new realistic survival game set in the Pacific Ocean, where you, like the survivor Chuck Noland from the movie Cast away, must survive on deserted islands far from civilization, facing extreme loneliness.

Project Castaway focuses on realistic survival, which includes exploration, resource gathering, crafting, and base building like in other wilderness survival games. In the game, you have to hunt for food, scavenge for materials to build shelters, and craft gear to survive the harsh environmental hazards and defend yourself from wild animal attacks.

You can build a raft and set off on a journey to discover new islands. Each trip is filled with danger, as you’ll not only battle fierce storms but also face your greatest threat in the water – sharks. These predators will constantly put your survival at risk, yet diving in the ocean can help you find and loot underwater chests.

The game also includes a sanity system. So, you have to manage not only your character’s physical but also their mental health. Lack of sleep and other mental stressors will deteriorate your character’s sanity, which leads to hallucinations and the fight against the wicked spirits of the dead pirates. I have played Don’t Starve, Green Hell, and The Forest, all of which have sanity mechanics, and I really enjoyed them as they not only add additional challenge but also provide a great amount of fun.

Mardonpol has revealed that the game will leave Early Access in about 1–2 years and will feature an expanded world with more islands, added wildlife, vegetation, and craftable items. Additionally, the developers plan to add co-op, allowing you to survive in the Pacific Ocean together with friends.

Project Castaway will launch on September 23 on Steam for $24.99, with the console release planned for a later date.