Nowhere Prophet

{{Infobox video game

| title = Nowhere Prophet

| image = Nowhere Prophet cover.jpg

| developer = Sharkbomb Studios

| publisher = No More Robots

| engine = Unity

| platforms = Windows, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

| released = {{ubl|Windows, macOS, Linux|July 19, 2019|Switch, PS4, Xbox One|July 20, 2020}}

| genre = Roguelike deck-building

| modes = Single-player

| designer = Martin Nerurkar

| programmer = Martin Nerurkar

| artist = {{ubl|Anjin Anhut|Casey Parkhurst|Jack Allen}}

| composer = Mike Beaton

|caption =

|alt =

}}

Nowhere Prophet is a roguelike deck-building game developed by German developer Sharkbomb Studios and published by No More Robots. The game was first released in early access for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux in October 2017 on Itch.io.{{cite web | url=https://sharkbombs.itch.io/nowhere-prophet/devlog/12109/first-access-release | title=First Access Release! | author=Nerurkar, Martin | date=2017-10-10 | access-date=2021-05-19 | archive-date=2021-06-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612193658/https://sharkbombs.itch.io/nowhere-prophet/devlog/12109/first-access-release | url-status=live }} The game was fully released for these platforms in July 2019.{{cite web|author=Allen, Joseph|date=2019-06-24|title=Digital Dustpunk Deck-Builder Nowhere Prophet Launches On Steam July 19th|url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/digital-dustpunk-deck-builder-nowhere-prophet-launches-on-steam-july-19th|access-date=2021-05-19|archive-date=2021-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930090324/https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/digital-dustpunk-deck-builder-nowhere-prophet-launches-on-steam-july-19th|url-status=live}} A version for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One followed in July 2020.

Gameplay

In Nowhere Prophet, the player takes on the role of a prophet and attempts to lead a convoy of outcasts through a hostile, procedurally generated environment in search for a mystical, safe place. On this journey the player has to manage resources and to battle through enemies and bosses. This combat is resolved with a collectible card game-based system, where the skills of the prophet and the members of the convoy are represented by cards. During the journey the prophet can improve their skills and the convoy can grow, giving the player access to a wider card pool from which to build their decks.

Development

Nowhere Prophet was designed and developed by Martin Nerurkar over a five-year span. The development was begun in 2015 under the working title Burning Roads and was supported with public funding from the German state of Baden-Württemberg.{{Citation|title=Geförderte Projekte|url=https://games-bw.mfg.de/foerderung/gefoerderte-projekte/|language=de|access-date=2021-05-19|archive-date=2021-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506133057/https://games-bw.mfg.de/foerderung/gefoerderte-projekte/|url-status=live}} During development the combat system was completely changed from a system involving multiple party members to the grid-based combat it ultimately released with.{{Citation|author=Suther, Austin|title=A Look at How Nowhere Prophet Combines Roguelikes and Card Mechanics|date=2019-07-17|url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/previews/look-at-how-nowhere-prophet-combines-roguelikes-and-card-mechanics|language=en|access-date=2021-05-19|archive-date=2024-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818224107/https://techraptor.net/gaming/previews/look-at-how-nowhere-prophet-combines-roguelikes-and-card-mechanics|url-status=live}}

According to an article from developer Martin Nerurkar, the game's First Access release on Itch.io sold 136 copies in the first five weeks, eventually growing to 450 copies over the next six months.{{cite web|last=Nerurkar|first=Martin|date=November 16, 2017|title=Five Weeks in the Wild - Early Access on itch.io|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/five-weeks-in-the-wild---early-access-on-itch-io|access-date=November 13, 2021|work=Gamasutra|archive-date=November 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113114716/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/five-weeks-in-the-wild---early-access-on-itch-io|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Nerurkar|first=Martin|date=April 10, 2018|title=Early Access without Steam?|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/early-access-without-steam-|access-date=November 13, 2021|work=Gamasutra|archive-date=November 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113114727/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/early-access-without-steam-|url-status=live}} During this time the game was featured in articles on Rock Paper Shotgun.{{cite web|title=Nowhere Prophet is a post-apocalyptic trip with a soul|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/nowhere-prophet-roguelike-cards|access-date=November 13, 2021|work=Rock Paper Shotgun|date=15 January 2018|last1=Smith|first1=Adam|archive-date=13 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113114811/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/nowhere-prophet-roguelike-cards|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Nowhere Prophet hits the road this summer and it's made me a digital card game convert|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/nowhere-prophet-preview-pax-east-2019|access-date=November 13, 2021|work=Rock Paper Shotgun|date=17 April 2019|last1=Castle|first1=Katharine}}

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 73/100{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/nowhere-prophet/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | title = Nowhere Prophet for PC Reviews | work = Metacritic | publisher = CBS Interactive | access-date = October 31, 2021 | archive-date = August 18, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240818224050/https://www.metacritic.com/game/nowhere-prophet/critic-reviews/?platform=pc | url-status = live }}
NS: 81/100{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/nowhere-prophet/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch | title = Nowhere Prophet for Switch Reviews | work = Metacritic | publisher = CBS Interactive | access-date = October 31, 2021 | archive-date = August 18, 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240818224106/https://www.metacritic.com/game/nowhere-prophet/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch | url-status = live }}

}}

Nowhere Prophet has an aggregate score of 73/100 on Metacritic, described as "mixed to average reviews".{{Cite web|title=Nowhere Prophet|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/nowhere-prophet/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|access-date=2021-11-15|website=Metacritic|language=en|archive-date=2024-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240818224050/https://www.metacritic.com/game/nowhere-prophet/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|url-status=live}} Some of the issues noted by critics were the high difficulty and the AI behavior. Matt Cox of Rock Paper Shotgun called the game "worth exploring for its world and its storytelling", but criticized the combat, calling the AI "wonky".{{cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/nowhere-prophet-review | title = Wot I Think: Nowhere Prophet | access-date = November 13, 2021 | work = Rock Paper Shotgun| date = 19 July 2019 | last1 = Cox | first1 = Matt }} Edge rated the game 50/100, comparing the combat to "playing against an opponent who overturns the table when they win".{{Cite journal|date=2019-08-15|title=Nowhere Prophet Review|journal=Edge|issue=336|pages=118}} Miguel Solo of Meristation rated the game 7.8/10, calling the combat innovative and the game itself heavily replayable, but also saying that the progression was unclear and it could use maps with more alternative routes.{{Cite web|last=Solo|first=Miguel|date=2019-08-08|title=Nowhere Prophet, Análisis: cartas postapocalípticas|url=https://as.com/meristation/2019/07/29/analisis/1564394119_191158.html|access-date=2021-11-15|website=MeriStation|language=es}}

= Awards and accolades =

Year	Award	Category	Result	Ref
class="wikitable sortable"
style="text-align:center;" \| 2019 \| Animated Games Award Germany \| Visual Design & Aesthetics \| {{Nom}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{Citation \| title=Nomination for German Animated Games Award at ITFS 2019 \| url=https://www.chriseff.com/animated-games-award-itfnominee \| language=en \| date=2019-05-06 \| access-date=2021-05-19 \| archive-date=2021-04-13 \| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413011722/https://www.chriseff.com/animated-games-award-itfnominee \| url-status=live }}
style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4" \| 2020 \| rowspan="4" \| GermanDevDays Award \| Best Story \| {{Nom}} \| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;" \|{{Citation \|title=GermanDevDays Indie Award: Online-Verleihung am 1. Oktober; Nominierte enthüllt \|date=11 September 2020 \|url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/Spielkultur/37427/2192747/GermanDevDays-Online-Verleihung_am_1_Oktober_Nominierte_enthuellt.html \|language=de \|access-date=2021-09-30 \|archive-date=2021-09-30 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930090843/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/Spielkultur/37427/2192747/GermanDevDays-Online-Verleihung_am_1_Oktober_Nominierte_enthuellt.html \|url-status=live }}
Best Sound \| {{Nom}}
Best Game Mechanics \| {{Nom}}
Best Game \| {{Nom}}
style="text-align:center;"\| 2021 \| Deutscher Entwicklerpreis \| Best Game Design \| {{Nom}} \| style="text-align:center;" \|{{Citation \|title=Deutscher Entwicklerpreis 2020: Die Nominierten stehen fest – große Preisverleihung im Live-Stream am 20. Januar 2021 \|date=2 December 2020 \|url=https://www.deutscherentwicklerpreis.de/deutscher-entwicklerpreis-2020-die-nominierten-stehen-fest-grosse-preisverleihung-im-live-stream-am-20-januar-2021/ \|language=de \|access-date=2021-05-19 \|archive-date=2021-06-07 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607154044/https://www.deutscherentwicklerpreis.de/deutscher-entwicklerpreis-2020-die-nominierten-stehen-fest-grosse-preisverleihung-im-live-stream-am-20-januar-2021/ \|url-status=live }}