BLACKWOOD

BLACKWOOD is a third-person action thriller developed around a double life. The protagonist owns a small DVD shop in a recreation of New York as it was in 2012, and outside of working hours takes on contracts as a killer in the city’s criminal underworld. The story follows the character’s attempts to balance survival and morality while dealing with events from their past.

Combat is gun-based and supplemented by movement options including dives, rolls and slides. The game’s central mechanic is a system of contextual takedowns, which range from unarmed one-on-one executions to attacks that make use of the surrounding environment. The developer describes these encounters as grounded and physically weighty, with the intention that players learn the system over time.

Away from combat, the DVD shop functions both as a business and as the character’s home. Players can restock shelves, organise stock, set prices and serve customers at the counter, or leave the shop to run largely on its own with lower returns. The apartment can be decorated, outfits can be changed, and the game includes RPG elements tied to the character’s dual identity. The narrative features a cast of flawed characters and a city containing environmental details such as adverts, tattoos and posters that contribute to the world-building, with missions that develop an ongoing conspiracy plot.