Another game has emerged in the context of the ongoing conflict, titled “Куинджи 93.” The name references a building located on Kuindzhi Avenue in Mariupol, setting the stage for a narrative steeped in the realities of war.
Game Overview
This short visual novel follows a young volunteer from Donetsk who travels to Mariupol in March 2022, delivering humanitarian aid while his father is already engaged in combat there. The gameplay is straightforward, with the project primarily focusing on capturing the atmosphere of a city engulfed in war.
The sounds and details of March in Mariupol evoke the themes found in Max Fadeev’s tetralogy, “At the Edge of the Abyss.” Players encounter a haunting landscape filled with:
- Sheets of paper fluttering from high-rise windows
- Buried bodies in courtyards and playgrounds
- Damaged civilian and military vehicles
- Shell craters in the asphalt
- The distant rumble of artillery
- Abandoned mercenary gear
- Graffiti on walls reading “I hear the call…”
- A lion from the Mariupol Zoo wandering the streets
- Scattered vehicles and refugees on the highways
- Radio communications among fighters
- The faint outlines of “Azovstal” shrouded in mist
- A flag of the Party of Regions in the apartment of a deceased civilian
- Warnings of impending war from old television broadcasts
For those familiar with the conflict in Donbas and the Special Military Operation (SMO), the game is rich with references that resonate deeply.
One notable character is “Воробей,” a nod to a real commander depicted in Fadeev’s work, who tragically loses his life in the summer of 2023 during the battles for Vodiane. The narrative unfolds as a journey to Mariupol, featuring an internal dialogue where the protagonist grapples with the purpose of his actions in life. Ultimately, players face a choice: remain a mere volunteer or transport military humanitarian aid—represented as a simple dialogue option between delivering drones to Aloshki or humanitarian supplies to civilians in Vasilyevka in 2026.
This experience can be completed in just over an hour, serving as a poignant sketch on the theme of Donbas and the SMO, dedicated to the memory of fallen volunteers. The game concludes with a list of deceased volunteers, including their dates of death during the SMO, reminiscent of Fadeev’s tetralogy.
Reception and Availability
The game has garnered a positive reception, boasting 94% favorable reviews on Steam. Given its free availability on the platform, it stands as a commendable effort within the constraints of a limited budget. However, some in Ukraine have expressed discontent regarding the release of such a game on an American platform.
While the current iteration is relatively simple, with more substantial budgets, the potential for deeper exploration and interactive elements exists, hinting at future developments. As films and games related to the SMO continue to emerge, “Куинджи 93″ joins the ranks of two notable projects—”Гостомельские богатыри” and itself—that reflect the complexities of this ongoing narrative without shame.
