- “In Shelter you experience the wild as a mother badger sheltering her cubs from harm. On their journey they get stalked by a bird of prey, encounter perils of the night, river rapids crossings, big forest fires and the looming threat of death by starvation.”
- —Might and Delight
Shelter is Might and Delight's first release in the series and establishes its survival/role-play themes by allowing the player - as a Badger - to interact with, feed and shelter their virtual Cubs in the heart of an intensely stylised world.
It can be purchased on Steam and GOG.
Gameplay
A game of survival, Shelter focuses on the care and protection of five badger Cubs as they follow the protagonist - a Mother Badger - to their new home. The player, as Mother, is tasked with collecting and hunting food for these cubs; as well as sheltering them from predator attacks and natural disasters.
There is also an alternative "Nurture Mode", in which the Cubs must be cared for every day for a month. It is an intimate, slow-paced experience designed to bring players closer to their Cubs as they grow and learn over time.
Story
The story of Shelter follows Mother and her Cubs as they venture from their old burrow and journey across the heart of the forest in search of a new place to call home.
The narrative begins with a sickly Cub, who must be fed before the adventure can start.
As the game proceeds, the Cubs grow hungry; prompting the Mother Badger to scavenge for fruits and vegetables, or hunt small mammals so that they might survive. Following this pseudo-tutorial introduction comes the first predator hunt, in which an Eagle attempts to swoop from the skies and snatch a baby from Mother. Using natural cover and stealth, she attempts to lead her cubs through tall grasses and overturned logs to prevent the Eagle's attack - eventually coming to a log suspended between two cliffs that collapses under the weight of its new occupants.
At the bottom of the cliffs, Mother and Cubs awaken to find that it is night-time. With limited vision of their surroundings and Wild Dogs padding through the brush, Mother must collect her panicked Cubs and keep them close as they are escorted to the next area, where they are then faced with an overflowing river.
Following their ascent, a wildfire sparks in the forest; forcing Mother to lead her family through a charred and burning landscape that threatens at every corner. In this inopportune moment, another Eagle attempts an attack on the badgers - though they must move quickly in their stealthy escape, as fire eats up the cover of tall grasses.
As the game draws to a close, another Eagle strikes the family - though this time, its hunt is successful.
As Mother is injured, she desperately calls for her remaining Cubs to escape and continue on to their new home before she is snatched by the bird's claws, and carried away to the nest. After the credits sequence, it can be seen that the Eagle was only trying to feed its own babies.
Gallery
Trivia
- The Wild Dogs that are featured in the night stage of the game are never seen, though they are heard.
- The game was received positively and appraised for its art, sound, and emotional impact.
- However, it received mixed reviews regarding its difficulty and length.
- The alternative "Nurture Mode" is commonly referred to as tamogochi-like by Might and Delight.