Historical narrative adventure games offer a unique perspective into bygone eras that still resonate to this day. In Mexico 1921: A Deep Slumber, players follow the fictional photojournalist Juan as he becomes embroiled in a plot that leads to the assassination of a president.
The game is the debut title from Macula Interactive, a group of developers from diverse backgrounds. At GDC, Director and CEO Paola Vera shared the first public demo of Mexico 1921. During our conversation, I was thrilled to learn about the team’s dedication to accurately retelling the story of post-revolutionary Mexico. They collaborated with cultural institutions such as the Popular Art Museum and the Institute of Bibliographic Research to ensure the game’s authenticity.
Mexico 1921 is presented in a documentary style, with visuals inspired by the works of muralists like Diego Rivera. Each level invites players to explore iconic real-life locations and interact with locals to gather information for their contact, Gregorio.
As a photojournalist, Juan’s mission is to take photos using analog camera equipment. Players must master the art of photography, controlling aperture, zoom, and depth of field to capture their subjects accurately. The collectibles players find will be recorded in Juan’s notebook, serving as a cultural archive of rich history and a reference point to advance the game.
During the demo, I found myself interviewing people and using “Nosy Mode” to overhear conversations that were otherwise inaccessible. The game features Spanish and English voiceovers from a native cast and promises around four hours of story runtime, with even more content available to those who choose to find all the collectibles.
The pandemic project has been in development for over three years, and Mexico 1921‘s depiction of Mexican history and preservation efforts through collaboration make it a standout independent title. Mexico 1921 will be available on Steam and Xbox, with the release date yet to be announced.
