Being a site with Canadian origin, we like to keep a close eye on games made in Canada, or those that have a Canadian story. Montreal-based Unreliable Narrators previous title, Two Falls was one we thoroughly enjoyed when it launched in 2024. Unreliable Narrators second title, The Caribou Trail is nearly upon us and is something entirely different, but still with a big Canadian heart.
The Caribou Trail is a war story that takes place during The Great War. It follows the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who fought alongside the British in barbaric battles across Europe and where the game takes place, Gallipoli. This is not an action war game, it is narrative adventure about surviving the brutalities of war. Joining the British war effort in Turkey, the regiment includes men who are not battle hardened and out of their depths in the trenches they’ve dug.
After playing the gripping 30-minute Steam demo which takes place early in the game, I was keen to learn more about the game and what will be included in the full release for PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and then PlayStation. Francis Rufiange – Lead Designer and Laurène Betard – Brand Manager from Unreliable Narrators were more than happy to share more about this narrative adventure with Gamer Social Club.
The Caribou Trail Interview
Congratulations on the imminent launch of The Caribou Trail. The last time we caught up with Unreliable Narrators was shortly after the release of Two Falls*, tell us about the journey to The Caribou Trail since then.
After Two Falls, we knew we wanted to continue telling grounded, human stories tied to history, but explore a very different emotional space. At Unreliable Narrators, we’re especially drawn to Canadian stories that aren’t often told in games, and even before finishing Two Falls, we already knew we wanted to explore the story of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.
The Caribou Trail came from a desire to create something more visceral, a story that you experience moment to moment. It pushed us to refine how we approach immersion, pacing, and player presence, placing you directly in the shoes of these young men as events unfold around you.
It’s been a natural evolution for the team, but also a very meaningful one, and something we’ve been sharing with the community along the way through our Steam posts, which really reflect how the project came to life. More info in this Steam post.
*See our developer interview with Unreliable Narrators for Two Falls here.
I have to ask, where does the name come from?
The name comes from the caribou, which is the emblem of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. It’s a strong symbol of identity and memory.
There’s also something very powerful in the idea of the “Caribou Trail”. Historically, it refers to the path marked by caribou monuments across Europe, placed in the locations where the regiment fought. In our case, it also represents the journey these young men took, from Newfoundland to the front, both physically and emotionally. It’s about what they carried with them, and what they left behind.
More info on the origin of The Trail of the Caribou
Gallipoli was one of the many frontiers of war the Royal Newfoundland Regiment fought in, how did you land on this atrocious battle?
Gallipoli stood out to us for a few reasons. It’s a lesser-known front in games, but also a very important one historically. It’s actually the first step in the journey of the Newfoundland soldiers, which made it a natural starting point for the story we wanted to tell.
There’s also something very striking about the living conditions and the very messy nature of the war at that time, which we tried to represent from the moment you land to the end. It’s a part of the war that feels very human, very chaotic, and it aligned perfectly with our intention to focus on lived experience rather than strategy or large-scale battles.
This is not a traditional war game, this is a narrative adventure of survival that had Firewatch vibes in the demo. What can we expect from Fisher and the ‘b’ys’ in the full game?
Firewatch has definitely been a big inspiration for us, so it’s always nice to hear that comparison.
With Fisher and the ‘b’ys’, we really wanted to focus on the human side of war. These are not heroes, they’re young men trying to understand what’s happening to them. You’ll spend time with them, around the fire, talking, joking, cooking… getting to know who they are and where they come from.
Two characters in particular, Lonnie and Gordon, are always with you. They have very different personalities, and the relationship you build with them is at the core of the experience. It’s those bonds, and how they evolve, that carry a lot of the emotional weight of the game.
The Caribou Trail is clearly intended to be an evocative journey. With themes of brotherhood and humour, alongside loss and mental stability, how will you emotionally drag players into the camps and trenches of Gallipoli?
For us, it’s all about immersion and time. We give space to quieter moments, sitting by the fire, cooking, listening to stories, discovering bits of Newfoundland folklore. That’s where you start to connect with the characters.
Lonnie and Gordon, especially, play a big role in that. They’re always with you, and their personalities bring both humour and tension. You get attached to them naturally, just by spending time together.
From there, the emotional weight builds on its own. We’re not trying to force anything, it’s more about letting players live those moments and form their own connection.
The game is releasing for PC initially then PlayStation 5 in July, are there considerations for other platforms in the future?
We’re launching first on PC, on Steam and Epic Games Store, on May 14, and then on PlayStation 5 on July 7.
For now, our focus is really on making sure those versions are as strong as possible. That said, we’ve had quite a few requests for Xbox already, so if the game performs well, it’s definitely something we’d be open to exploring.
Thanks to both Laurène and Francis for their time for this interview.
Gamer Social Club will be bringing you more on The Caribou Trail in the days ahead. Be sure to check out the free demo to trial the game yourself ahead of launch.
Is The Caribou Trail on your radar? Did you play Unreliable Narrators previous title, Two Falls? Let us know in the comments below or join the friendly and active Gamer Social Club Discord to chat about all your favourite games.
