Off-Peak Explained

Off-Peak
Developer:	Cosmo D
Publisher:	Cosmo D
Designer:	Greg Heffernan
Programmer:	Greg Heffernan
Artist:	Greg Heffernan
Composer:	Archie Pelago
Platforms:	Linux macOS Windows
Genre:	Adventure game
Modes:	Single-player

Off-Peak is an adventure game developed and published by Cosmo D. Players explore a surreal train station and attempt to leave a dystopian city. It was released as freeware in 2015. It was followed in 2017 by The Norwood Suite, which shares the same setting.

Gameplay

Off-Peak is set in a dystopian city reminiscent of New York City.^[1] Players arrive in a train station, attempting to leave a dystopian city. They have no ticket, but learn that a friend has ripped up his ticket and left the pieces scattered in the station. Off-Peak is a first-person adventure game that focuses on exploration. While exploring the station, players will meet characters who will tell them about their lives working in the station, or overhear conversations between other characters. ^[2]

Development

Greg Heffernan, a professional musician, began making video games in the 2010s under the name Cosmo D. Off-Peak is his second video game. He was looking to create something "satisfying and unsettling at the same time". He was inspired by musician John Zorn to make a surreal world based on improvisation that is grounded in a strong theme.^[3] Heffernan credited video games with giving him a "wider creative bandwidth" to talk about life in New York City, people he knew, and the intersection of music and commerce. Heffernan's band, Archie Pelago, provided music for the game.^[4] Off-Peak was released as freeware.^[1]

Reception

Kill Screen said it was fun to explore and a love letter to Heffernan's influences. Describing it, they said "whether or not this is a videogame, a music video or a mood board is a question with no incorrect answer".^[5] In another article, Kill Screen interpreted Off-Peak as warning against the commodification of art.^[6] Slant Magazine, which called it weird and beautiful, chose it as one of the best games of 2015.^[7]

See also

• Babbdi, another free video game where players attempt to flee a dystopian city^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Freeware Garden: Off-Peak. Dimopoulos. Konstantinos. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2015-02-24. 2023-04-22.
2. Web site: Following Freeware - October 2016 releases. . Adventure Gamers. 2016-11-28. 2023-04-22.
3. Web site: Making videogames inspired by New York's musical improv scene. Priestman. Chris. Kill Screen. 2016-12-01. 2023-04-22.
4. Web site: How Indie Dev Cosmo D Is Humanizing New York. Smith. Ed. Vice. 2016-11-28. 2023-04-22.
5. Web site: Off-Peak splits the difference between a videogame and a mood board. Kotzer. Zack. Kill Screen. 2015-03-06. 2023-04-22.
6. Web site: Speak Up, Off-Peak. Smith. Ed. Kill Screen. 2015-12-21. 2023-04-22.
7. Web site: The 25 Best Video Games of 2015. . Slant Magazine. 2015-12-07. 2023-04-22.
8. Web site: Explore a Brutalist city with climbing axes and a trumpet in this great free indie game. O'Connor. Alice. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2023-01-13. 2023-07-10.