Ontos: A Game About Rats, Liars, and Lying Rats, Probably

If the number of rats I ran into is anything to go by, Ontos has a rodent problem. Over the course of a fairly brief Gamescom demo, I counted more than 50 of the creatures scurrying through the game's world. And it didn't take long for the experience to hand me my first uncomfortable decision: what to do with a rat that had just been caught.

One small animal, one big question

The captured rodent wasn't an ordinary one. Clamped to its head was a creepy, science-fiction-style helmet straight out of Star Trek, complete with electrodes wired into its brain. The device was reading its brainwaves — and, presumably, manipulating whatever was going on inside its small skull. My choice was simple on the surface: let it go, or don't. But the way the moment was framed made it clear that Ontos wants players to sit with these decisions rather than breeze past them.

That's the impression the preview left strongest. Rather than treating animals, technology and morality as set dressing, the game seems determined to braid them together and force the player to weigh the consequences.

A hands-on look at Gamescom

Playing it live at the show gave a decent feel for the game's tone. The world is populated, layered and clearly designed to reward attention — the sheer volume of rats alone suggests they matter to the larger story rather than serving as mere background flavor. The mind-control helmet adds a distinct sci-fi unease to the proceedings, hinting at broader themes about control, experimentation and who gets to decide what happens to a living creature.

The moment of choice itself was handled with a light touch. There was no dramatic music sting or on-screen prompt lecturing me about ethics. The game simply presented the situation and waited. That restraint made the decision feel more personal, not less — and left me wondering what ripples, if any, my choice would send through the rest of the game.

What happens next

Based on this early look, Ontos appears to be shaping up as a game about consequences, delivered through small, unsettling encounters rather than grand speeches. If the full release keeps stacking these kinds of moments — one captured animal, one helmet, one decision at a time — it could be one of the more thought-provoking titles on the horizon. A release date and further details are expected as the game moves closer to launch.

Source: the original publisher