Hey everyone!
Steam Next Fest is in full swing, and we've got a little surprise for anyone planning to play (or replay) the Echoes of Mora demo this weekend!
We've added two new optional dialogue scenes (which we call "Traces") that you can discover inside Mora's house. These moments offer deeper insight into Dario's relationship with his father and feature a mysterious phone call from Rosa.
Traces are whispers from the past that you can experience without solving a puzzle and opening a portal, and are intended to give you even more in-depth lore and additional story pieces.
Added a Trace about Dario in Mora's house
Added a Trace featuring Rosa's phone call in Mora's house
Fixed an issue where the first segment of dialogue in Mora's room Echo was muted
Known Issue: If you solve the statue puzzle in the cave but can't pick up the locket fragment, please return to the main menu and then press continue. The fragment will then become collectible. This issue will be fixed in the full release.
Echoes of Mora has been featured in several articles, including mentions as one of the VR demos available during this Steam Next Fest.
We've also seen a number of streams and playthrough videos, and it's been incredibly exciting to watch people experience the game and share their thoughts. We're truly grateful for all the support!
We've also received some recurring questions from the community that we'd like to answer here for everyone:
How long will the demo stay up?
We're planning to keep the demo on Steam even after the full release to give players a chance to try swimming in VR before deciding to purchase the game.
How is this a cozy game?
We think "cozy" can mean very different things to different people. For some players, it's already enough that there's no combat, no fail states, and no time pressure (and that's definitely how Echoes of Mora is designed).
The whole game is meant to feel unhurried. You can just swim through the sunken Italian village, explore at your own pace, and take your time with everything. The atmosphere, music, and movement are all there to help you relax and sink into the world.
The story does get emotional and touches on heavier topics, but a big part of the experience is connecting with Mora and being there with her, which hopefully feels comforting in its own way.
What makes this game similar to Subnautica?
Some players describe Echoes of Mora as a "cozy Subnautica", so we also started using the term, since Subnautica was one of our inspirations.
We focused on the atmospheric side, the sense of awe, immersion, and discovery, rather than survival mechanics or base building. As developers who personally experience thalassophobia, we wanted to capture that incredible sense of underwater immersion without the stress of running out of oxygen or being chased by lurking threats. In Echoes of Mora the focus is entirely on the submerged world and the emotional connection that drives the player's journey.
And that's it for this update!
Don't forget to wishlist and dive into the demo!
Thank you so much for your support!
The Selkies Team 🌊