Indie developer Viridian Matters has announced Panline, a first-person freerunning game clearly inspired by DICE's beloved Mirror's Edge, and early gameplay snippets are already available. With EA showing no signs of reviving the Mirror's Edge series, this announcement is drawing immediate attention from fans of the genre.
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What Panline Brings to the Table
At first glance, Panline checks all the boxes fans of Mirror's Edge have been craving. The game takes place across a gleaming dystopian cityscape filled with spotless white skyscrapers, a setting that makes the spiritual connection hard to mistake. Here's the thing, though: Viridian Matters isn't just cloning the formula.
Rather than sticking to linear course-clear platforming, Panline features a non-linear, open city structure. Players take on jobs that appear dynamically, and as they unlock new movement abilities and upgrade their in-game gadget, previously inaccessible areas open up. The movement toolkit includes wall-running, building up speed, and crashing through doors, all the kinetic staples you'd expect.
What most players will find interesting is the risk mechanic baked into the progression system. Lethal falls wipe your progress for an active job. The developer describes it plainly: "what you carry is what you risk, and progress only counts once you make it back to base." It gives the freerunning a genuine sense of stakes that goes beyond pure speed-running.
The color palette also sets Panline apart from its inspiration. Instead of Mirror's Edge's iconic red accents, environments are splashed with bright blue, orange, and algae green, giving the world its own distinct visual identity.
Panline's upgradeable PDA gadget
The Late-Aughts Nostalgia Is Very Much Intentional
Panline wears its era of inspiration openly. The PSP-style PDA gadget is front and center in the game's first promotional screenshot, and the parkour aesthetic channels the same enthusiasm that made Mirror's Edge a cult classic when it launched back in 2008. Viridian Matters appears to be leaning into that nostalgia deliberately, targeting players who grew up with both DICE's platformer and Sony's handheld gaming era.
The developer is not without a track record, either. Their only other game on Steam, Ikarus Parkour, carries a "Very Positive" review rating, suggesting the studio knows how to build a movement-focused experience that resonates with players.
A release window is set for sometime this year, though no specific date has been confirmed. Footage remains sparse at this stage, limited to brief clips, but what's there is enough to make the prospect genuinely exciting for anyone who has been waiting for a worthy follow-up to the Mirror's Edge formula.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Panline?
Panline is an upcoming indie first-person freerunning game developed by Viridian Matters, inspired by Mirror's Edge. It features a non-linear open city, dynamic jobs, upgradeable gadgets, and movement mechanics including wall-running and door-crashing.
When does Panline release?
Panline is currently slated for release sometime this year, but no specific launch date has been announced. Players can follow development updates on the game's official page.
Who is developing Panline?
Viridian Matters is the indie developer behind Panline. Their previous game, Ikarus Parkour, earned a "Very Positive" rating, indicating experience building parkour-focused games.
