It doesn’t get creepier than folklore in the South and Appalachia, where Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight brought Southern Folklore with a dash of Appalachian cryptid to players. The debut game from Jade & Company, Blue Ridge Hunting, is diving deep into the mountains and the foothills with its co-op horror title.
Published by Six One Publishing and developed by Jade & Company, Blue Ridge Hunting began as a solo project by Jade Meadows in January 2023, a simple idea centered on multiplayer cryptid-hunting. With the studio’s formation by artists, composers, and designers, it’s grown into a title that aims to highlight West Virginia’s community and resilience.
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What is Blue Ridge Hunting?
Blue Ridge Hunting is an online co-op horror adventure where you and your friends investigate, document, and hunt cryptids in the Appalachian Mountains. In the game, players enter the long history of the Appalachian Mountains, home to cryptids, creatures, and a deep folklore woven into the fabric of American storytelling. Real sightings and legends of the region inspire the events you explore in the game.
Players will join the Appalachian Investigation Group as they hunt and collect evidence to track down the creatures that call the region home. You will get paid for successful hunts and invest your earnings in better gear. But be careful, as creatures are always listening and watching. One of the features highlighted in the release to press is how the debut title uses proximity voice chat and the radio players are equipped with to communicate with one another.
Jade & Company has also shared that the game will feature a full story mode at its 1.0 launch. While the setting and premise have been established, the story centers on Levi Chambers, a disgruntled West Virginia native haunted by sightings of the infamous Mothman. Players will set off with Levi across West Virginia to uncover the truth behind what’s haunting him.
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Ky Features
The release to press also highlighted the different features that players can expect from Blue Ridge Hunting. Primary among them is a nostalgic PSX art style that taps into the found footage look of iconic horror films like The Blair Witch Project, up to five-player co-op, and an original that embraces bluegrass to drive it all home.
Below are the features as highlighted by the publisher:
- Found Footage: A gritty retro/PSX art style inspired by early 3D horror and analog media.
- Always Listening: Creatures react to proximity voice chat and radio chatter. Communication is crucial, but dangerous.
- Into the Woods, Solo or Together: Explore the Appalachian wilds alone or with up to 5 players in online co-op freeplay mode.
- Bump In The Night: A narrative-driven story (1–3 players) following the Appalachian Investigation Group’s hunt for the truth.
- Experience The Legends: Face unique, intelligent creatures based on real Appalachian legends and folklore.
- Dark-Bluegrass Symphony: An original score that blends haunting melodies with Appalachian roots, amplifying the tension and tone.
What is the release date for Blue Ridge Hunting?
Six One Publishing and Jade & Company have not shared a release date for the title. That said, Blue Ridge Hunting’s demo is currently available on Steam, and you can support this independent horror title on Kickstarter.
