
When the truth is buried, go underground. Step into this new take on text-based adventure from the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume. A short story that hands you the fate of the world above, as a detective looking for answers on the Subsurface Circular.
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A detective stationed on the Subsurface Circular investigates a series of disappearances among the city’s robotic working class. Collect words and phrases, then use them in dialogue puzzles to uncover the world's secrets and determine its future.
This self-contained short story takes around two hours to complete and is split into several chapters. You can play the game in one sitting or, if you prefer, unfold the story in smaller pieces that can fit into a busier schedule.
Subsurface Circular is inspired by classic adventure games and modern dialogue systems, and developed by the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume.
Key FeaturesA polished, one-sitting game.
A graphical twist on the classic text-based adventure.
Uses 'Focus Points', a unique vocabulary-based inventory system.
Original soundtrack by Dan Le Sac.
Comprehensive art gallery featuring the detailed work that went into this world.
Unlockable ‘BithellBot’, our interactive take on a developer’s commentary.
If this game is ‘short’, what’s to stop me getting a refund when I’m done?
You’re browsing Steam, which means you understand the work that goes into games, and are in principle up for paying for ones that entertain you. We hope that after a bit of time with Subsurface Circular, you’ll feel good about the price you paid.
Why is the game only available in English?
As you can imagine, a text adventure game contains a terrifying amount of text, but more importantly, throughout the game we use the particular quirks of word ordering and double meaning in English to support the combination and recombination of threads. Put simply, other languages are going to be more than a straight translation: They’re going to need rewrites and changed design. Not impossible, but more than we could get done this time around.

Genres
Stats
All-time low is the lowest price we've recorded for this game since we started tracking it.
Languages: English
Engagement
Hours played at review time, across 41 reviews with recorded playtime.
Reviews
Themes across 41 recent reviews and how positive each mention is. A keyword signal, not full sentiment analysis.
positive critical· bar length = how often the theme comes up
Reviews
Es la primera novela visual que termino, suelen aburrirme. Esta me gustó bastante la historia.
[h2] Компактная нарративная адвенчура о наделенных интеллектом роботах [/h2] Хорошо написанный текст, философские рассуждения о месте иной формы жизни в нашем мире, и сюжет, который несмотря на медитативную подачу, ощущается динамично и живо - все это можно найти тут. Игра прекрасно осознает чем она хочет быть и справляется со своей задачей, даря приятный опыт и оставляя хорошее послевкусие. Прошел игру за вечер и остался доволен. В ней чувствуются душа и вложенные старания. ЧТО ПОНРАВИЛОСЬ: +сюжет (вау эффект он не произвел, но имеет какой никакой смысл, был увлекателен и вызывал желание узнать что будет дальше) +работа со звуком (фоновый шум метро воссоздан отлично, будто сам во время игры в подземном транспорте оказался), +визуал (яркий и отточенный, прекрасная работа с освещением и цветогаммой) +продолжительность (игра ценит время игрока) +выборы, которые имеют значение +скромная цена +интерфейс (минималистичный и в то же время полноценный и удобный) ЧТО НЕ ПОНРАВИЛОСЬ: -некоторые головоломки (секция с двумя роботами, чьи эмоции связаны, меня слегка задушила и сбила с темпа игры) -экспозиция (слишком мало рассказывается о мире игры и его устройстве, что мешает полноценно переживать за его судьбу) ВЫВОД: интересное авторское приключение на вечер, любителям научной фантастики и роботов должно понравиться. 8,5 из 10 ˙⊹. ꒰ঌ ᧔ෆ᧓ ໒꒱ .⊹˙
Kinda generic but pretty interesting little story. Felt like the perfect length to get you to care but didn't drag on for too long like many of these type of games do.
Good, short game with amazing art direction and a compelling science fiction story to tell.
Beautiful little game for being a very short text-based game with very few actual decisions. There are a few puzzles but its mostly just talking until you hit a roadblock, then talking to someone until you get enough info to then go back. It's definitely more about ambiance, and getting to chat with an interesting cast with their own little quirks while unraveling a persistent sense of unease. Not at all challenging and, as with many detective games, you'll figure things out before the game's options let you pursue them, but the context of the game and the player character gives a little space and justification for this limitation. The larger plot and stakes fall a little flat right at the end. Again, the framework of an entirely robotic cast and a player-character who comes close but pointedly does not reach human thinking covers for this weakness a little, adding something a little poignant instead of just lackluster and disappointing, but it does feel like it just misses the mark. Worthwhile (especially on sale) if you like the idea of a few hours of dialogue-based narrative and some lovely robot designs in a industrial subway, but definitely more about mood than anything else. If you're looking for a challenge, a complicated mystery, high energy, or any kind of action, this probably won't be fun.
A short little sci-fi mystery story unburdened by complicated skill trees, tedious exploration, or distracting side quests. Just you, a train, and a colourful cast of robots to chat with as they help you piece together a conspiratorial puzzle. I do wish the story was a bit longer and richer and some of the mechanics more in-depth (especially one late-game segment that was an interesting spin on the game's already well-established formula), but this is quite a fun way to spend an afternoon (or evening).
Very good and concise narrative puzzle game. Good character writing, the setting is pretty interesting, and while a bit basic, I really like the Focus Point system. Pretty cheap too!
muy bueno la verdad es que es un poco largo pero muy bueno 10/10
Court Visual Novel SF à l'histoire prenante et bien écrite et qui s'inscrit dans un écrin visuelle très soigné. Une petite gemme qui gagne à être plus mise en avant.
Me encanta, lo jugué después de su secuela espiritual Quarantine Circular. Pese a que me gustó más su secuela, este juego es excelente. Me encanta.
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Trends
Modeled estimate over time, reconstructed from Steam's monthly review histogram.
Audience
Estimated from the language of this game's reviews — a proxy for where players are, not official Steam demographics.
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