The original Syberia, if you’re unfamiliar, released all the way back in 2002, quickly charming adventure game fans with its gently surreal story of a New York lawyer dispatched to deal with the sale of a former automaton factory hidden in the French Alps. An equally well-regarded sequel followed two years later, but it took a further 15 years for Walker’s adventures to continue. Unfortunately, 2017’s Syberia 3 was generally considered to be a bit of a dud - plagued by technical problems and flawed design - leaving many to assume its poor reception would mark the end of the series. That, however, wasn’t the case and publisher Microids announced a fourth game - Syberia: The World Before - back in 2019. This newest entry - once again directed by original series creator Benoît Sokal, who sadly passed away earlier this year - splits its story across two different timelines. Kate Walker returns - her story unfolding in 2004 - while a second plot strand, set in 1937, follows a new playable character, 17-year-old pianist Dana Roze, as struggles against the looming fascist threat of the Brown Shadow at the start of the Second World War. If you’re intrigued, a free playable prologue episode has been available on Steam and GOG since late last year. The full version of Syberia: The World Before will be available on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store for £34.99 when it launches on 10th December this year.
