Echo Ridge: The Lost Signal

Pitch: https://youtu.be/3Ei-0JMtIjQ 

Genre: Open-World Adventure, Story-Driven Exploration

Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox (potential for next-gen visual and performance features)

Echo Ridge: The Lost Signal is an immersive, open-world narrative adventure deep in Montana's rugged wilderness. Players take on the roles of Bowen Sparks, a former wilderness survival instructor, and Jake Coakley, a local radio operator and longtime friend, as they uncover a mysterious disappearance tied to encrypted transmissions, buried secrets, and a hidden government project.

Players explore the massive mountainous terrain, complete quests for townsfolk and drifters, uncover clues, solve environmental puzzles, and survive the elements as they piece together a story that blends realism, mystery, and survival.

Fans of open-world narrative adventures, aged 14–40, who enjoy games like Firewatch, The Long Dark, Days Gone, and Red Dead Redemption 2. It also appeals to those drawn to survival, mystery, and exploration-based gameplay.

People will enjoy it because of the beautifully rendered Montana wilderness with dynamic weather and seasonal cycles, a deeply personal narrative with strong character development and moral choices, a mix of exploration, survival-lite mechanics, emotional storytelling, and unique quests tied to a rural, tight-knit community with a mysterious history.

The Core Gameplay will involve exploring Montana’s Echo Ridge area, which includes valleys, forests, ghost towns, and abandoned bunkers, engaging in dialogue and side quests to uncover secrets and build relationships, and surviving the wild: managing warmth, hunger, and wildlife encounters, uncovering clues and decode signals tied to the overarching mystery, and progress the main story by solving puzzles, retrieving relics, and making choices.

Key features will include dual protagonists and switching between Bowen and Jake during key moments or when separated. Dynamic weather and survival will affect travel, visibility, wildlife behavior, and accessibility. Decisions that affect trust, relationships, and the ending. An open quest design where players can follow leads in any order and discover unique paths to completion. A secret radio system where players can use and upgrade Jake’s radio gear to scan for hidden transmissions and distress calls.

The major areas I'd like to include are Echo Ridge Town, the small mountain town where the mystery begins; Larchpine Forest, a dense, wildlife-rich area with hidden shelters and old ranger stations; Pineback Summit, icy cliffs and ancient mining tunnels where key plot points unfold; and Shadow Lake, a serene but eerie location with a submerged structure. Redwater Bunker is a secret underground complex tied to the conspiracy. Abandoned Ranger Tower is a high-elevation outpost with panoramic views and significant plot reveals.

There are four main quests and four side quests in this game. The Vanished Hiker is the first main quest where the player will investigate the mysterious disappearance that sets the story in motion. The second main quest is Frequency 19, where players follow strange radio signals that grow stronger the deeper they venture. The Redwater Legacy is the third main quest, where players uncover the truth behind a Cold War-era program hidden in the mountain. The fourth and final Into the Storm: A climactic ascent during a deadly blizzard to reach the truth. The side quests are to help an elderly trapper find closure for a lost son. Reconnect a reclusive ex-park ranger with the town. Assist in rebuilding the fire watch towers to extend radio signal range. Document wildlife and folklore for a traveling journalist.

There are two main characters. Bowen Sparks, a former military survivalist turned wilderness guide, is strong, resourceful, cautious, and empathetic. He is skilled in tracking, crafting, climbing, and stealth. The other character is Jake Coakley, a tech-savvy, charismatic, and slightly paranoid radio operator who provides real-time updates and mission support. He is occasionally playable in fixed scenarios. He is skilled in radio hacking, decoding, and puzzle-solving.

There will be three NPCs: Mila Reed – A botanist researching strange flora growth patterns. Sheriff Griggs – Protective but suspicious of outsiders. Eli Morgan – Elderly mountain man with key knowledge of the area’s dark past.

The user interface will include a HUD menu and a traditional menu. The HUD will include a compass and objective marker: minimal and can be toggled on/off for immersion. A weather indicator: a small icon showing current and incoming weather. An inventory and status: accessed via the radial menu, it shows health, warmth, and supplies. A radio feed: a subtle ticker when Jake is scanning or intercepting messages. A notebook system that automatically logs discovered clues, coordinates, and character notes. The main menu will include New Game / Continue, Chapter Select, Settings (Audio, Graphics, Controls), and Extras (Lore Gallery, Developer Commentary). The Pause menu will include: Resume, Save/Load, Settings, and Quit. The Map and Journal menu will include an interactive topographic map with fast travel (limited to known safe locations) and a quest journal with branching clues and decision logs

Echo Ridge: The Lost Signal offers a raw, atmospheric journey through nature and mystery. With two grounded protagonists, emotionally charged storytelling, and a richly detailed world shaped by player choices, this open-world adventure captures the soul of the Montana wilderness and the eerie beauty of secrets buried beneath the snow. Whether players seek survival, exploration, or truth—this game allows them to choose their path.