Close to the Sun

About

Close to the Sun is a horror adventure set aboard a massive, decaying ship built by Nikola Tesla in an alternate 1897. You play as Rose Archer, a journalist hunting for her missing sister on the Helios, a floating research utopia now swallowed by silence and rot. Navigate labyrinthine halls lit by flickering Edison bulbs, solve environmental puzzles, and piece together fragmented logs to uncover what turned the ship’s scientific paradise into a death trap. The game leans into atmospheric tension over jump scares, with eerie sound design and a slow-burn narrative that ties Tesla’s real-world theories to its fictional horrors. The game’s Art Deco-meets-biomechanical aesthetic stands out, blending lavish set pieces with creeping decay. Its Metacritic score of 82 reflects praise for its moody world and clever use of period-appropriate tech in puzzles. While some found the story’s final act underwhelming, the first half-hour remains a benchmark for engaging environmental storytelling in indie horror. Available on PC and consoles since 2019, it’s a brisk 6-8 hour experience that lingers longer than its runtime suggests.

Storyline

It’s 1897. Deep in international waters, the Helios stands still. Dark clouds loom overhead as unforgiving waves crash against the hull. Colossal effigies of gold, decorated with magnificent finery, stretch as far as the eye can see. Born of Nikola Tesla’s vision, the Helios serves as a haven for the greatest scientific minds. An unbound utopia for research, independent from state and isolated from the gaze of society. Free to push the boundaries of matter and time. Journalist Rose Archer steps aboard the Helios in search of her sister Ada. She quickly discovers not all is as it seems. Grand halls stand empty. The stench of rotting flesh lingers in the air. Silence. A single word is painted across the entrance… QUARANTINE!