Mimic: Trust in the Preview - Survival Horror Meets Social Deduction

Aboard the Icarus, not everyone shares the same objective. 'Mimic' blends survival horror with social deduction, assigning secret roles to up to ten players at the start of a game. While one part of the group tries to repair the ship's systems and escape, others can sabotage these very plans. The game was presented in more detail at gamescom 2026.

Different Roles, Different Goals

The crew works to restore the Icarus's damaged systems and then escape the ship. However, an alien threat lurks among the humans.

The Agent, on the other hand, sides with a corporation. Instead of supporting the escape, they work against the crew and try to favor the Mimic's plans.

The Mimic can blend in with the other individuals, appearing human at first. Its goal is to eliminate the crew. To achieve this, it can remain undisguised or change its form and hunt directly.

When the Disguise Falls

During the presentation, the Mimic's capabilities were demonstrated. Initially, it can act like a regular crew member. However, when necessary, it can transform into its creature form and openly confront other players.

Additionally, the Mimic can lay eggs on the ship. These serve as a contingency, allowing the creature to return under certain conditions even after death. This makes egg placement strategically important and offers the Mimic another way to prepare its actions.

Another Danger Onboard

Regardless of the secret roles, a deadly android patrols the Icarus. This introduces an additional threat as the crew performs their tasks and tries to leave the ship.

The Mimic can even exploit this danger for its own purposes, drawing the android's attention to other players. This creates a confluence of multiple systems on the Icarus, which can make a game session even more unpredictable.

Distrust is Part of the Game

The secret roles form the foundation of 'Mimic's' social component. Since it's not immediately clear who has what intentions, conversations and decisions within the group can quickly gain importance.

The integrated proximity voice chat complements this. Conversations are bound to the immediate vicinity, allowing them to be used for coordination as well as deception. However, the extent to which this dynamic truly carries the game cannot yet be judged from a presentation alone.

Stolen Hardware Ends Laley's gamescom Prematurely

Away from the game, gamescom came to an unpleasant end for Ryan Laley Games. Equipment was stolen from the developer's booth on the night of Thursday to Friday, including a laptop needed for the presentation. Other indie exhibitors were also affected by thefts.

Ryan Laley reported the incident to the police. Due to the significant loss of equipment, he had to end his exhibition appearance prematurely.

Early Access Launches in October

'Mimic' is being developed and published by Ryan Laley Games. Early Access for PC will launch in October 2026 via Steam. The game is intended to be further developed with the community there. Planned additions include new maps, roles, abilities, and further customization options.

A release for Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 has not yet been announced.

The presentation of 'Mimic' showcased an interesting interplay of survival horror, secret roles, and differing objectives. Particularly noteworthy is the Mimic's ability to initially appear undisguised before transforming into its creature form, which stands out within this concept.

Whether this will truly lead to exciting situations over many game sessions remains to be seen in actual gameplay. Especially since 'Mimic' relies heavily on the decisions and communication of its players, group dynamics will likely be crucial to the overall success of the concept.