'MAW', a story-driven adventure game developed by indie developer Zakroutil, released a free demo supporting Korean on Steam on October 13.
In this demo, players can play the entire first chapter of the game in Korean. Korean localization is provided across the board, including the story, character dialogue, user interface, and investigative clues and hints. The full release is targeting a 2027 launch on Steam.
'MAW' tells the story of a wolf detective living under a repressive regime who confronts his identity while investigating criminal cases. While working as a detective for the state, the protagonist hides the fact that he is LGBTQ+. The game follows both his pursuit of the truth behind cases and his journey to find his true self amid societal expectations.
Investigations utilize unique wolf senses. Players can sniff to track scents, lick suspicious objects to gain information, listen closely to ambient sounds, and observe crime scenes to gather clues. Players explore various locations and interact with a diverse cast of animal characters to uncover the hidden truth behind the cases.
Player choices affect relationships with characters and how the story unfolds. Players can converse with or interrogate characters, and even express romantic interest to pursue romance options. Characters remember the player's choices and react differently based on their actions, personality, and appearance. The clothing equipped on the protagonist also influences how surrounding characters react.
The game's narrative was partially inspired by developer Zakroutil's personal experiences. Set in a fictional animal society, it deals with identity, belonging, and self-acceptance, capturing the conflict between societal expectations and personal emotions. According to the developer, all content was created without the use of generative AI.
The free demo of 'MAW' with Korean language support can be downloaded from its Steam store page.
