NEARstudios, a team including veterans of Skyrim, Mass Effect, and The Last of Us, has launched the Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming RPG sandbox Hawthorn, as previously promised. Along with the announcement, they unveiled a story-driven trailer introducing the game’s whimsical yet mysterious tone. Heavily inspired by Beatrix Potter's tales, The Wind in the Willows, and The Hobbit, Hawthorn features a richly woven world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals.

The trailer introduces Windermere, a once-thriving caravan waypoint and refuge for creatures like mice, otters, and owls. It served as a home for Beastfolk—animals who left their burrows in search of something greater. But one winter morning, the village fell silent. Every resident mysteriously vanished, leaving behind an air of sorrow and questions.

Should the crowdfunding campaign reach $2 million, the developers promise full voice acting for the main storyline, including the addition of actor Doug Cockle to the voice cast.

Announced in October 2024, Hawthorn allows players to build their own characters and settle into a deep sandbox experience. You’ll manage a village, cultivate land, craft items, befriend unique NPCs, and traverse a dynamic world shaped by seasons, threats, and hidden treasures.

Main image: steampowered.com