In this historically rigorous RPG, you'll play as Meriwether Lewis & join with Captain William Clark to lead an epic expedition across North America. Can you endure harsh climates, keep starvation at bay, befriend Native Americans, document new species for science, and map these uncharted lands?
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Release Date:
Dec 4, 2017
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Curator Review

Informational
By Cartogaming July 1, 2018

“Terra incognita (not yet played).
It'd be a shame if such a historical mapping expedition wasn't reflected in the game mechanics somehow.”

Early Access Game

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Note: Games in Early Access are not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“We have already extensively tested Meriwether with our Kickstarter backers, and the game is nearing completion. However, our backers were a relatively small and invested audience audience who knew a lot about the game and the subject material. Now we want to collect one final round of feedback from a wider and less-focused audience, so we are releasing it on Early Access.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Meriwether will be in Early Access for approximately two months.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The Early Access version has a preliminary draft of all levels and content. It contains 22 levels spanning from Philadelphia to the Pacific, and back. The critical path of the game is complete. However, the full version will include additional optional content, side quests, and alternate endings. The full version will also be more polished than the Early Access version, and have most known bugs fixed. We plan to solicit feedback from Early Access users, and will also revise the game design and writing based on that feedback.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The game is complete, but some aspects are unpolished and buggy. Some optional content, such as side quests and alternate endings, still have yet to be written. We have tested Meriwether thoroughly with our Kickstarter backers. It is possible to play through the game in its entirely, but there are some bugs which could cause you to get stuck in unusual situations.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“The game's price will increase after Early Access.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We always look to the community for feedback on gameplay and take their suggestions very seriously. Because of the late stage of development that this game is in, we hope to also get technical feedback from users able to test the game on a broad range of hardware.”
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Reviews

“...for anyone looking for an entertaining survival/exploration game.”
TIGSource

“I’ll just come right out and say this: Meriwether is absolutely fascinating.”
Rock, Paper, Shotgun

“[Meriwether is] part of a new crop of games, from the highly mainstream (Assassin’s Creed 3) to the academic-indie (Walden) to the art-game avant garde (Proteus) that scrupulously renders and unabashedly celebrates nature.”
Kill Screen

About This Game

An Epic American Journey

President Thomas Jefferson has commissioned you for a mission that will change the destiny of the United States. Along with your co-captain, William Clark, you are to lead the Corps of Discovery--three dozen intrepid volunteers from the United States Army--from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. That's over 3,700 miles of rivers, plains, forests and mountains you will need to cross: and then retrace on the journey home.


Meriwether is a single-player, first-person RPG that combines the narrative richness of adventure games with resource management, hunting, and exploration to offer a unique play experience. The game implements the best parts of open-world design and customized content to give you an experience that is driven by your actions, yet remains true to history.

The dangers you will face are incalculable. You'll have to draw your own map as you go, for no reliable one exists. You'll have only the supplies you can carry with you to fend off starvation, exposure, disease, and mischance of every variety. Given the difficulty of the journey, you are the only man in America to which the President would entrust this mission: you. And you are Meriwether Lewis.

Features

  • The script and story, by award-winning writer Carlos Hernandez, features an innovative dialogue system. Are you more of a Leader, a Diplomat, a Soldier, or a Scientist? Will you be able to keep your Melancholy in check? Your choices will customize the game to your play-style.
  • Historical rigor: noted Lewis and Clark historian Barb Kubik has provided the designers with a thorough cultural understanding of America in the early 1800s, and has fact-checked the game down to the buttons on the uniforms. In addition, some of the leading Lewis and Clark scholars, including XXXXX, have consulted on the game, further deepening its authenticity.
  • Keep death at bay through carefully managing your resources, negotiating well with the Native American nations you encounter, and constantly boosting the morale of your men.
  • Hundreds of plants and animals to discover, all modeled on the actual species Lewis documented on the journey.
  • You are the doctor! Attempt to treat your men's wounds and illnesses by using logic, luck, and mercury-laced laxatives (which are, unfortunately, historically accurate).
  • Hunt: 1804-style. Ever try to shoot an angry grizzly with a flintlock rifle? Better make every shot count.
  • 20+ hours of gameplay for the first playthrough, and five distinct fates for Meriwether Lewis based on your actions.

System Requirements

Windows
macOS
SteamOS + Linux
    Minimum:
    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS *: Windows XP SP2+
    • Processor: Intel Core i5 or equivalent
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 550 or ATI™ Radeon™ HD 6XXX or higher
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 4750 MB available space
    Recommended:
    • Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    • OS *: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
    • Processor: Intel Core i7 or equivalent
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 or AMD R9 280
    • DirectX: Version 11
    • Storage: 4750 MB available space
* Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.
    Minimum:
    • OS: Mac OS X 10.9+
    • Processor: Intel Core i5 or equivalent
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 550 or ATI™ Radeon™ HD 6XXX or higher
    • Storage: 4750 MB available space
    Recommended:
    • OS: Mac OS X 10.9+
    • Processor: Intel Core i7 or equivalent
    • Memory: 8 MB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 or AMD R9 280
    • Storage: 4750 MB available space
* Starting February 15, 2024, the Steam Client will no longer support 32-bit games or macOS 10.14 or lower.
    Minimum:
    • OS: Ubuntu 12.04+, SteamOS+
    • Processor: Intel Core i5 or equivalent
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 550 or ATI™ Radeon™ HD 6XXX or higher
    • Storage: 4750 MB available space
    Recommended:
    • OS: Ubuntu 12.04+, SteamOS+
    • Processor: Intel Core i7 or equivalent
    • Memory: 8 GB RAM
    • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 or AMD R9 280
    • Storage: 4750 MB available space

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