Lone Pine growing closer to PC release

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Photographic search for mythical cryptids coming in 2026 to Steam, with a demo later this year

Bigfoot, real or no? How about the Loch Ness Monster? If the very possibility of legendary cryptids gives you a little jolt of excitement, even if you're a skeptic, then you can start looking forward to searching for some yourself in Lone Pine, the upcoming adventure from indie Australian developer Bang Bang Bang Interactive.

Players step into the hiking boots of a young woman named Izzie, a "sharp-witted, slightly cynical twenty-something who's hit a rough patch in life and is looking for an adventure." She hasn't been to back to the Lone Pine National Park since she was a child, but has always believed there is something unusual about this place, and local stories about strange creatures in the forest suggest she might be right. Researchers have visited the area before, only to "vanish without a trace, or leave suddenly without a word about what they saw." And so, the stubbornly determined Izzie takes it upon herself to find evidence of "mythical creatures whose very existence is disputed." Armed only with a week's worth of supplies and a trusty old camera, Izzie sets out on journey into the mountain park and soon "finds herself drawn into the strange mysteries surrounding its elusive inhabitants." But when a "raging storm hits ... Izzie discovers that not all on the mountain is as it seems," and the way home just might prove more dangerous than she imagined.

Inspired by "real-world folklore and mythology," Lone Pine is a lovely hand-drawn adventure that takes players to a variety of scenic locales "showcasing the natural beauty of national parks." This is no sightseeing tour, however, as there will be traditional point-and-click-styled puzzles to solve, dangers to avoid, paths to clear, and pictures to take via a first-person camera minigame "allowing you to photograph, name, and keep evidence of the cryptids." Controlled either through keyboard/mouse or a gamepad with selectable interactive hotspots, Izzie's adventure is a solo one, but she's never really alone as a "radio mechanic" lets her remotely communicate in fully voiced dialogue with park rangers on the other end. How you approach these conversations will shape the nature of your relationships and ultimately lead to one of two possible endings.

There's no firm target date for Lone Pine just yet, but the developers are aiming for sometime in the fourth quarter of 2026, preceded by a demo later this year. In the meantime, you can check out the game's official website and wishlist it on Steam, where it will be available for Windows, Mac and Linux with Steam Deck compatibility. Mobile and console ports are also being considered, but not yet confirmed.