Summary
- Judas may still be alive and on the way, offering a gameplay style reminiscent of BioShock.
- The Narrative LEGO design emphasizes player agency, promising countless distinct playthroughs.
- Players are expected to share unique experiences and bond over the game, similar to Breath of the Wild’s community growth.
March is already almost over, and there is still no sign of Ken Levine’s Judas, which was initially anticipated to launch before March 2025. However, there has also been no official confirmation that Judas is in development hell or struggling in any way, and the lack of a concrete release date means it hasn’t technically been delayed. As such, Judas is likely still very much alive and on the way, eventually bringing along with it some creative gameplay that resembles BioShock, as well as one of the most ambitious storytelling systems that Ken Levine has simply dubbed “Narrative LEGO.”
Ken Levine has talked about his Narrative LEGO idea for many years now, but Judas will be the first time fans get to see the system in action. At this point, the only picture fans have of the system is in the words of Levine himself, but he makes it sound as though Judas‘ Narrative LEGO design will allow players to experience a myriad of different playthroughs due to its extreme emphasis on player agency. If the system ends up functioning as intended, this could lead to some massive community building and bonding over Judas‘ unique storytelling methods, as no two playthroughs would be entirely similar.
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Judas’ Narrative LEGO Design Should Allow for Countless Distinct Playthroughs
Theoretically, Judas‘ Narrative LEGO design should allow for countless distinct playthroughs between different players, as it doesn’t merely involve the biggest decisions in the game but every single choice, major and minor, that players make. Whereas most choice-driven games rely most on plot-altering decisions and moral/ethical dilemmas, Judas emphasizes the importance of every choice by making the world and its characters react, not just to the player’s chosen path, but to each individual step they make on that path.
According to Levine, Judas‘ Narrative LEGO structure allows players to assemble the game’s story in their own way, although that doesn’t necessarily include major story outcomes. Rather than Judas‘ storytelling design being solely about the overarching outcome of its narrative, it’s more about the journey players take to reach that ending. This approach is drastically different from linear or strictly branching narratives, instead opening the door wide for player creativity, interpretation, and an unprecedented degree of replayability.
While there are bound to be at least three major outcomes to Judas‘ story (on account of the three diverse leaders of the Mayflower, Judas‘ setting, and their end goal), each player’s path to those outcomes is expected to differ dramatically.
Players Can Share Their Unique Experiences With One Another
Because Judas‘ Narrative LEGO structure aims to offer players an opportunity to fully personalize their playthrough down to the most minute details, each player is expected to have a vastly different experience. In light of that, it would make sense for Judas to have a strong community, as players would naturally share their favorite moments in the game with one another and even offer advice on how to achieve those moments. It would be somewhat similar to the growth of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom‘s community after its launch, which made them look a lot like single-player multiplayer games, as players would constantly share their findings and creations with one another and bond as a result.
Theoretically, Judas‘ Narrative LEGO design should allow for countless distinct playthroughs between different players, as it doesn’t merely involve the biggest decisions in the game but every single choice, major and minor, that players make.
Even with it still shrouded in mystery and the wait stretching longer than originally anticipated, Judas‘ Narrative LEGO concept has all the makings of a community-driven phenomenon. Should it deliver on its ambitious promise, Judas might redefine player agency in gaming and simultaneously foster a player base brought together by discovery, creativity, and endless experimentation.
- Released
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March 1, 2025
- ESRB
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