In 1996, an American studio called MediaX began the development of a video game influenced by George Orwell’s novel 1984. The game, titled “Big Brother,” allowed players to assume the role of a resistance member named Eric Blair (the real identity of Orwell) as they attempted to infiltrate and sabotage government facilities across twelve levels filled with numerous puzzles. It transformed Orwell’s legendary dystopian narrative into an adventure format.

However, by 1999 or 2000, the project faced cancellation, likely due to licensing issues preventing its completion. Initially announced for a September 1998 release priced at $30, the game missed its deadline and seemingly faded away from memory.

Recently, a demo from January 1999 was uploaded to the Internet Archive. Before rushing to download it, consider watching the video linked above. The gameplay is reminiscent of “find wrench” and “turn valve to adjust water pressure” mechanics but presented in a first-person perspective, akin to a version of Myst with graphics from Quake. Although it has some propaganda elements, such as posters proclaiming ‘WAR IS PEACE’ and ‘HATRED IS POWER’, the game lacks a genuine Orwellian ambiance and does not appear particularly captivating.

While prizing its preservation for historical value, those seeking a truly dystopian gaming experience might prefer Papers, Please, especially with another adaptation of 1984 in development, featuring contributions from the narrative designer behind Subnautica, Talos Principle, and FTL.