The Gunk

The Gunk is a story-driven action-adventure video game played from a third-person perspective. In the game, the player assumes control of Rani, a scavenger who has arrived on an alien planet with her partner Beck. The alien planet features various biomes such as canyons, jungles and caves, but the terrains have been corrupted by a black slime-like parasite named the Gunk which is actively harming the environment and its wildlife.[1][2] Rani is equipped with a power glove that can be used to suck in the gunk, effectively restoring the original environment. Players may also need to fight against corrupted monsters. When the gunk is removed, wildlife will thrive, and the player can use Rani's scanner to scan the environment and learn more about the world. All findings will be documented in a logbook that players can read.[1]

Scavengers Rani and Beck arrive on an alien planet to gather resources and alien plants, but discover that the planet is corrupted by a black slime-like substance named the Gunk. While Rani plans to save the planet from the gunk, mistrust starts to fester between the two friends.[3]

The game was developed by Image & Form, the studio behind the SteamWorld series. The team began conceptualizing ideas for a new game after the release of SteamWorld Dig 2 (2017). They wanted to create a game that was larger in scale and one that would feature 3D computer graphics. Since it was the studio's first 3D games, Image & Form decided to use Unreal Engine 4, which enabled a smooth transition for the team. The first prototype of the game was created by director Ulf Hartelius. The prototype included several basic character movements, and saw the player "[vacuuming] limy gunk off the ground and watching plants grow back". The team believed that the experience was "ridiculously gratifying" and decided to turn it into a full project. Unlike the previous SteamWorld games, which were released on many platforms, the game's 3D visuals required the team to work with more powerful hardwares. Therefore, the team partnered with Microsoft to release the game exclusively on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S.[4]

The Gunk was officially announced on July 24, 2020 during the Xbox Series X Games Showcase.[5] Initially set to be released in September 2021, the game was delayed to December 16, 2021.[6][7]

• Official website