Dear Thaumaturges,
Before you set foot on the creaky floorboards of our shop on Hollowell Lane, we figured some of you still might have a few questions about your role, the shop, and the journey ahead. In this blog, we’ll answer a handful of them to make sure you don’t cause someone’s demise during your very first shift.
Do I need to have played Strange Horticulture?
No. Strange Antiquities is a stand-alone sequel set in the same world but tells a completely separate story. Returning players will find familiar mechanics and lore, but the game has been designed to be welcoming for new players too. Take your time - discovery is part of the experience. And if you’re ever stuck, there’s a hint button to help.
Will there be some familiar faces?
Yes. Previous visitors to Undermere may spot some familiar customers, along with crossover lore, references, and Easter Eggs for fans of Strange Horticulture.
Will there be multiple endings again?
Yes! There are at least 8 distinct endings to discover. None of them are “wrong” - they’re simply reflections of the path you took.
What about the Closer Inspect system?
We’ve expanded the “Closer Inspect” mechanic so you can now examine items in greater detail. There are four categories of analysis, and you can hover your mouse over different sections of each artefact to uncover useful information and hidden clues.
… and the new books?
You’ll find several new tomes to study, packed with hints and lore to help identify strange antiquities.
What else is new?
Err. No more spoilers now - you’ll have to play the game and discover the game’s secrets for yourself.
I need to know: can you still pet the cat?
Of course. His name is Jupiter. To be honest, if regular petting is not part of your daily ritual, then one might infer that you’re a monster.
Eli White told me not to touch anything. I’m sure that means there are no secrets to discover, right?
Let's just say rules were meant to be broken... 😉
What are the controls?
The game is fully playable with just a mouse.
Right-click to inspect.
Mouse wheel for magnifying glass.
There are also keyboard shortcuts for those with a different play style.
Arrow keys/WASD to move around the shop.
Shift for magnifying glass
Is there controller support?
Yes.
Does it play well on Steam Deck?
Yes. Tested, tuned, and Verified on Steam Deck!
How long is the game?
Tricky to say. 6-10 hours, but possibly longer, depending on how you play.
What is the price point?
$17.99 with a 10% launch discount
What engine does it run on?
Unity.
Do you plan to release it on additional platforms?
PC and Nintendo Switch at launch. More platforms to follow in due course.
What about Mac?
Mac is a priority for us, but we couldn’t get it ready in time for launch. Please bear with us - we’ll update you as soon as we can…
What are the accessibility options?
Easy-to-read fonts
Zoom with the Magnifying Glass
“Closer Inspect” descriptions include colour cues - we’re colourblind ourselves, and we’ve tried to make sure fellow colour-impaired folk can play comfortably.
Mouse-only controls, but with added keyboard support.
Arachnophia setting - there’s a small spider who sometimes wanders around the clock. His name is Tony. He’s harmless… but you can toggle him off if you’d prefer not to see him.
What languages is the game in?
At launch: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Turkish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian.
I want to cover the game on my channel/blog/outlet. How do I get a key?
For any coverage inquiries, just send an email to pr[at]iceberg-games[dot]com!
Where do I report bugs if I find one?
You can report any bugs and hiccups in our Steam forum. We’ll set up a dedicated bug-reproting thread here.
I uncovered some haunted antiquities in my grandpa’s attic. What do I do?
Apprentice at Strange Antiquities, and you’ll soon learn that every object has its uses… and its dangers.
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Bad Viking
Iceberg Interactive
