The Subject

About

The Subject casts you as an inmate in a dystopian future where prisoners are auctioned off to private labs. Trapped in a labyrinthine space facility, you solve environmental puzzles to escape while evading a relentless predator lurking in the shadows. The game blends tense stealth with methodical problem solving, forcing you to balance exploration against survival as resources are scarce and mistakes come at a cost. Set in a galaxy where corporate-run prisons profit off mass incarceration, the game’s narrative leans into bleak sci-fi themes. Players navigate a world where human lives are commodified, and every misstep could mean being marked for the next experiment. Released in late 2018, it runs on PC and Linux, offering a lean but atmospheric experience. The blend of claustrophobic horror and cerebral challenges earned it a cult following among fans of indie survival games.

Storyline

In 2194 humanity has populated the entire galaxy. As our existence expanded, crime became harder and harder to control in the vast reaches of space. As a result, laws became more strict. Government attempts to wrangle the issue bolstered a growing police force and, over many years, the reach of law enforcement grew larger and more aggressive. The general population, simply wanting to feel safe, grew more accepting and the first fully commercially run prison systems took form. Nearly one hundred years later, in 2290 imprisonment is common place. A blind trust has been placed in the commercial justice system eventually landing every day people in jail for years for even the smallest offenses creating a massive divide between the idea of prisoner and person. Hundreds of commercial prisons and law enforcement companies thrive. Devaluing of prisoner lives and massive prison overpopulation gave birth to an auction system where anyone could purchase prisoners for any use free of legal ramifications. Acquired in the most recent bulk order of prisoners for BioMass Labs, you are being shuttled off for study at the Kohate testing facilities. No information is known about the details of the study. You have been black-bagged, loaded onto a transport shuttle, and are waiting for law enforcement to release you to the company.