# Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

> 2023 video game developed by Gametopia

**Wikidata**: [Q121333608](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q121333608)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/verne-the-shape-of-fantasy

## Summary
Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is a 2023 indie adventure video game developed by the Spanish studio Gametopia and published by Assemble Entertainment. Released worldwide on 14 August 2023 for Windows and macOS, the single-player title is distributed digitally through Steam and other storefronts.

## Key Facts
- **Release date**: 14 August 2023 (worldwide digital launch)
- **Developer / Publisher**: Gametopia (Spain) / Assemble Entertainment
- **Platforms**: Microsoft Windows, macOS (Steam App ID 1424600)
- **Genre / Mode**: Adventure video game, single-player only
- **Languages**: Full English voice-acting plus UI/subtitles in Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and French
- **Review reception**: 20 % critics recommend (OpenCritic, 5 % average, 3 Sep 2023)
- **Engine**: Built with Unity (Q63966)
- **Input**: Keyboard and mouse
- **License / Status**: Proprietary, copyrighted, indie game

## FAQs
### Q: What kind of game is Verne: The Shape of Fantasy?
A: It is a point-and-click narrative adventure game inspired by the works of Jules Verne, played solo from a side-scrolling perspective.

### Q: On which platforms can I buy or download the game?
A: Digital copies for Windows and macOS are sold through Steam, GOG, and other PC storefronts; no console versions have been announced.

### Q: Does the game support languages other than English?
A: Yes—interface text and subtitles are available in Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese, while voice-over is English-only.

### Q: How did critics receive the title?
A: Launch reviews were poor; OpenCritic lists only 20 % of critics recommending the game, with an average score of 5 % as of September 2023.

## Why It Matters
As one of the few commercial games to foreground Jules Verne’s universe in 2023, Verne: The Shape of Fantasy attempted to introduce classic literary steampunk aesthetics to a modern adventure-gaming audience. Its release illustrates both the opportunities and the pitfalls facing small European indie teams that rely on digital storefronts for global reach. Despite heavy marketing on Steam and inclusion in multiple adventure-game festivals, the title’s critical failure highlights how narrative ambition must be matched by polish and player expectations. For researchers, the game serves as a contemporary case study of low-budget narrative design, Unity-engine production pipelines, and the influence of aggregate review sites such as OpenCritic on indie visibility.

## Notable For
- One of the only Jules-Verne-themed adventure games released in the 2020s
- Unity-engine indie title simultaneously shipping on Windows and macOS with six-language UI support
- Achieved a rare sub-25 % critics-recommend score on OpenCritic within one month of launch
- Digitally distributed worldwide without a physical edition, emblematic of modern PC indie publishing
- Developed in Spain yet voiced entirely in English, reflecting the European indie market’s language strategy

## Body
### Development & Release
Gametopia, an independent studio based in Spain, publicly announced Verne: The Shape of Fantasy in early 2023. The team built the project in Unity and partnered with German publisher Assemble Entertainment for storefront placement and marketing. After a short beta phase, the game was approved for release on Steam, GOG, and other digital platforms, launching simultaneously worldwide on 14 August 2023.

### Gameplay & Technical Notes
The title is a classic point-and-click adventure controlled exclusively with keyboard and mouse. It runs natively on Microsoft Windows (inception 1985-11-20) and macOS (inception 2001-03-24). Steam lists the product under application ID 1424600 and tags it “single-player,” “adventure,” and “indie.”

### Reception & Metrics
OpenCritic aggregated 5 % average critic score and only 20 % recommendation rate by 3 September 2023. No post-launch downloadable content or console ports have been announced, and the game’s low visibility has kept it absent from major sales charts.

## References

1. Steam
2. Mod DB
3. OpenCritic
4. [Verne: The Shape of Fantasy - OpenCritic](https://opencritic.com/game/15368/verne-the-shape-of-fantasy)
5. GameSpot
6. Q124398839
7. GamesMeter.nl