Watcha Playin’?-Subsurface Circular

If you’re not familiar, Subsurface Circular is the newest game from Mike Bithell, creator of Thomas Was Alone. The game is set in a future where humans have created robots called “Teks” that perform all kinds of functions from fabrication, to child care, and even psychiatry. Your character is a detective who is geo-locked to their seat in the titular subsurface circular, the subway system that the Teks use to get around town. While riding, another Tek comes up and asks you to help find their friend who’s disappeared. You eventually agree and begin the journey of questioning the other Teks who get on board to see what you can find out about the rumored disappearances.

I really enjoyed playing through the game. Despite the fact that you never actually stand up, there are clever environmental puzzles to be solved in order to get the information you need. They’re never horribly difficult, but pose an interesting challenge.

Ultimately, I’m not sure how I felt about the story. On a surface level, I had fun and found the twist to be surprising, though not completely shocking. The game asks a lot of questions about the nature of rebellion, and if rising up through violence is an acceptable path. I’m not sure how I felt about the answers it lets you come to in that regard. There’s some wonk in regards to how power will be distributed and what the oppressed taking control might look like.  I also always feel weird when stories use robots as stand-ins for oppressed communities. There’s never enough nuance to really convey what systematic oppression looks like for marginalized people.

So yeah, I ultimately don’t know how I felt about Subsurface Circular. I don’t regret playing it, and it’s probably worth a play, but it’s definitely worth examining pretty critically if you do give it a shot.