This week, the former Zachtronics team at Coincidence released U.V.S. Nirmana, a new puzzler that has captivated players despite being categorized as “medium-difficulty.” Set in a monastic spacecraft on a pilgrimage through the galaxy, the game draws heavily on references to Dharmic religions. Players are tasked with addressing philosophical dilemmas faced by various civilisations by utilizing a cosmic reactor that operates similarly to a music sequencer. The objective involves connecting pipes and components to resolve relationships between abstract terms like “form,” “amen,” and “svaha,” all while minimizing “flux.”
As players engage with the initial puzzles, they experience a blend of excitement and confusion. The intricate mechanisms required to distill concepts like “light” and “sound” into “thought” using valves and relays invoke a sense of satisfaction despite the complexity. Zach Barth, the original founder of Zachtronics, mentioned his involvement with the game over two years ago, marking a long journey from concept to release.
The origins of U.V.S. Nirmana trace back to an abandoned pitch for a Warhammer 40,000 game, initially considered during the development of Zachtronics’ Opus Magnum in 2017. The failure to secure rights from Games Workshop, concerns over the setting’s political implications, and the fear of losing creative control ultimately diverted Barth and his team towards a different sci-fi universe that provides a contrasting atmosphere.
Barth reminisced about the desire to create a game inspired by Star Trek, a franchise they felt more aligned with than the darker tones of Warhammer 40,000. The initial attempts to secure a license for a Star Trek game, however, proved futile due to conflicting licensing structures between Paramount and CBS, which complicated any potential collaboration.
After dismissing the possibility of a Star Trek adaptation, Barth explored the idea of creating a game based on Seth Macfarlane’s The Orville, a show he admired for its humorous take on Star Trek tropes. However, the exorbitant licensing fees proposed by Fox led Barth to question the commercial viability of the project, considering the level of interest the series commanded among audiences.
An attempt to revisit the possibility of acquiring a Star Trek license led to an opportunity to create a comedy game based on The Lower Decks, the animated series following the lives of lower-ranking crew members. While Barth found some potential in the concept, he ultimately felt the characters lacked depth and the humor was not suited for an adult audience, leading to the project’s decline.
Following the rejection of the Star Trek concept, the team at Coincidence turned their focus to U.V.S. Nirmana, which gradually evolved alongside their initial ideas. Incorporating elements of Buddhism and philosophy became central to the game’s thematic foundation, although the exact method of integration remains an area to be explored further. For those curious about the game, U.V.S. Nirmana is now available on Steam.
