The Long Dark has a special place in my survivalist heart. And seeing a new, first person game come across my desk, gets me all warmed up to test my snow skills. The developers over at Magic Pie seem to have a good head start on their title and recently dropped a first demo for the game.

First off, what is it? Polyaris places players in an Arctic survival scenario near the border of Norway and Russia after a nuclear explosion cuts off all contact with the outside world. Players take on the role of an engineer and polar explorer who survives the blast by chance, only to find the region deserted and increasingly hostile.

The newly released demo features a Norway-inspired island filled with snow-covered terrain, icy coastlines, and melting glaciers. Exploration plays a major role, with players traveling by skis and boat while scavenging abandoned areas for supplies needed to survive.

Rather than relying on heavy direction, Polyaris focuses on open-ended exploration and environmental storytelling. Players are left to navigate the island at their own pace while uncovering clues about the disaster and the disappearance of everyone else. The atmosphere leans heavily into isolation and uncertainty, with survival mechanics shaping much of the experience.

According to the developers, the demo offers roughly 40 to 60 minutes of gameplay and is intended as an early look at the project rather than a finished product. The team is currently looking for feedback related to bugs, balance, progression, and the overall player experience as updates continue rolling out following the demo’s recent release.

I’ll certainly be checking out the demo and looking forward to what the developers of Polyaris have in store for us next.