CONSORTIUM is a single-player action RPG adventure developed by Interdimensional Games and released for PC in 2014. Set entirely aboard the C-3800-D Zenlil Consortium Command vessel on December 21, 2042, the experience centers on a murder investigation amid a crew of mercenaries and peacekeepers. Players control Bishop Six through a meta-narrative frame that positions them as a participant from the present day accessing an alternate future via a digital rift.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around free exploration of the aircraft's detailed interior combined with extensive dialogue interactions. Over 4,000 lines of fully voiced dialogue allow players to engage with more than 20 crew members, where every response influences how characters perceive Bishop Six. Relationships shift dynamically, opening or closing narrative paths without requiring combat. An energy-based inventory system manages sci-fi weapons, gadgets, and armor, supporting both lethal and non-lethal approaches or complete avoidance of violence through diplomacy alone.
Environmental events such as turbulence and decompression add tension during movement. The Source engine powers a living environment where crew members follow routines and react to player actions in real time. Choices made early can cascade into later scenarios, rewarding observation of the ship's lore and backstories that tie directly into the central mystery of a traitor on board.
Game Modes
CONSORTIUM delivers a single-player narrative campaign with no separate multiplayer or competitive modes. The primary experience unfolds as one contained story arc aboard Zenlil, functioning like a focused episode that adapts to individual decisions. Replayability stems from the branching structure, where different approaches to the same situations produce distinct outcomes and character reactions across multiple runs.
Players can complete the game through pure conversation and investigation or incorporate combat encounters. Subsequent playthroughs encourage testing alternative dialogue trees or force levels to uncover new details about the crew and events. A Virtual Trainer component in updated versions provides optional FPS practice scenarios separate from the main story.
Story and Characters
The narrative follows Bishop Six's arrival on Zenlil during a flight from Bulgaria to Ireland. A murder has occurred, and hostile mercenaries threaten the mission while suspicion falls on one of the chess-piece-ranked crew members. Over 150,000 words of integrated lore appear through documents, conversations, and environmental details, all connected to the characters and overarching plot.
Dialogue choices alter alliances and public perception of the player character. The story resolves its immediate arc while leaving threads open, emphasizing player agency in determining who lives, who trusts whom, and how the crisis concludes. An original orchestral score by Jeremy Soule underscores key moments without interrupting the flow of investigation and interaction.
Is It Worth Playing?
CONSORTIUM appeals most to players who prioritize choice-driven storytelling and character interaction over polished action sequences. Its short length, typically completed in a few hours on a first playthrough, pairs with strong replay value from the adaptive narrative. Reception has been mixed overall, with praise for the dialogue system and conceptual ambition alongside criticism of technical issues present at launch.
Patches addressed many early bugs, and a 2024 remastered version improves graphics, stability, and adds a new ending along with voice interaction options. Those drawn to immersive sim elements, branching conversations, and a self-contained mystery will find the game rewarding through its focus on consequences and multiple perspectives. Action-oriented players may find the optional combat less refined compared to the dialogue focus.
