Burn-9 Preview

I got the opportunity to check out a preview for Burn-9, developed by 14 Hours Production and published by Fellow Traveller. Very much inspired by Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell, this upcoming game will feature tactics, espionage, and action. However, you don’t play as the soldier sneaking through the facility. No, you play as mission control that has to guide them through, taking care of whatever problem a bullet or stealth alone can’t solve.

This game is based on an operation to retrieve… well, the Burn-9. What it is exactly is on a need-to-know basis, but that’s not part of your job to care. You were supposed to be in charge of a crack team of specialists who would carry out this mission with efficiency and grace… until the helicopter was shot down, and now all that's left of the crew is a single survivor: Dodo. It’ll be up to you to get her through the mission alive while gathering the necessary intel to complete the objective. However, considering Dodo will be going up against cyborgs, drones, and super soldiers, and you’re facing getting fired if you screw up, this isn’t going to be easy. Will your efforts save the world… or end it?

The game will mostly take place on a computer screen with a map with points of interest to click on to inspect, scan, or move Dodo to. Meanwhile, you’ll be selecting dialogue when interacting with all the jerks you’ll have to deal with (except Dodo; she’s cool). Not only do you have to placate the top brass, but also keep the last survivor calm, banter with Manticore and his army of drones, and… a jealous co-worker who would rather whine about not getting the mission than help you. Guess who he’s based on…

It’s basically a point-and-click with a sort of visual novel–esque execution. Though the map helps, it relies on your imagination to fill in the gaps while Dodo describes the visuals of her surroundings… or just how dark and completely blinding the place is. Remember, you’re supposed to be her eyes and ears on the field.

There are multiple ways to guide Dodo through areas, though some options won’t exactly work out too well. She’s not Solid Snake, after all, and she will die if you aren’t thinking it through. Your choices will determine the success of the mission or its abject failure, so make sure you’re choosing the right option.

The Burn-9 demo lasted 30 minutes, but it was enough to make me interested in the final product, plus that cliffhanger was pretty serious. It’s coming out sometime in 2026, so if this sounds interesting to you, wishlist it and prepare for some tactical radio action!