It’s fascinating how humans have this uncanny ability to adapt and flourish, regardless of where we find ourselves. A prime example of this resilience is captured in the indie game, Threshold, crafted by a developer whose past projects include the likes of Deathloop and Dishonored. The game transports you to the pinnacle of a towering mountain, putting you in the shoes of someone tackling one of the most nerve-wracking maintenance roles out there. Your task is to ensure the trains maintain their schedules, all while battling the thin air that often leaves you gasping for breath during your shift. The presence of your predecessor’s grave nearby only adds to the gravity of the job, while your fellow worker is simply grateful for the company.
The game introduces a unique difficulty setting based on countries, as boasted on its Steam page. Opting for Canada, I was greeted by my nation’s flag in what felt like an ominous welcome screen. Inside my modest workspace, I was met with a t-shirt proclaiming “I love Ottawa.” This jab felt personal to me, a true-blue Torontonian—an unexpected twist into psychological horror territory.
My initial thirty minutes in Threshold were spent learning the ins and outs of the job. I was given the option to choose a short two-letter name, settling on Bo. Mo, my colleague, had the task of guiding me through my duties. When the train begins to lag, a blast from a horn encourages it to pick up speed. I exchange a punched ticket for an air vial, essential for surviving in this oxygen-starved setting, even though using it leaves me spitting blood.
Mo shared some handy tricks to ease the workload a bit. One involves descending to the sluice gate to scrape off calcified residue, earning an additional ticket in the process. However, the station’s layout is far from practical. Navigating around it requires detours through buildings and down side paths. It’s almost as if the designers deliberately ignored the convenience of a few extra doors, adding challenges at every turn much like the fragile air vial designed to crumble upon use.
Despite these hurdles, hard work eventually led to a decent stash of air vials. Perhaps it’s due to the country-based difficulty, but I started getting into the flow, breathing a little easier. That’s when Threshold truly unveils itself. Secrets scattered across the map begin to unravel the story. I stumbled upon a corpse, something I felt worth mentioning to Mo. Discovering a hidden door, I gained access to a magical realm filled with boundless air—a place where I could ponder questions about worksite mysteries. While part of me longed to remain there, real life beckons and the trains must remain punctual.
Threshold’s nostalgic PSX-style graphics and the absence of music lend an almost tranquil quality to the task of managing the trains and collecting tickets. Before long, I found myself immersed in the mechanical rhythms, with the clattering gears and the sound of tickets. Completing Threshold in about an hour was just the beginning, as its hidden secrets and multiple endings beckon exploration.
Released on November 19 for Windows PC, Threshold was reviewed using a download code supplied by Critical Reflex. While Vox Media partners with affiliates, these relationships do not sway editorial integrity, though purchases via affiliate links may result in commissions. Additional details on Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.
