Pavel’s Gulag Getout is a penguin-themed VR climbing game

Pavel’s Gulag Getout is a penguin-themed VR climbing game that will make you furious, coming soon to Quest and Steam.

Co-developed by VR content creator Brandon “ChubbierSnail” Smith and Mindway, who previously released the VR meditation app of the same name, Pavels Gulag Getout is the tentative name for the upcoming release. Inspired by Getting Over It With Bennett Foddy, you play as Pavel Pinguinovich, a penguin who is kidnapped and held captive by agents for top-secret experiments in Cold War-era Siberia.

Hello friends! Today I am INCREDIBLY excited to announce that I am developing and releasing my first VR game!

Brought to life by my wonderfully brilliant partners at @MindwayVRHopefully this ChubbierSnail x Mindway collaboration will be a huge success! https://t.co/RMzuJ02vnE

— ChubbierSnail (@ChubbierSnail) August 8, 2024

Armed with a hammer and sickle, Pavel is tasked with scaling an imposing ice wall using “wits, determination, and athleticism” so he can be reunited with his family. The announcement video below doesn’t show any direct gameplay footage, but instead describes the game’s basic concept and reveals several storyboards.

“We are incredibly excited to be working with Brandon on this project,” Mindway CEO Tim Levent Yurdum said in a prepared statement. “His creativity and ability to connect with an active user base on a deep level make him the perfect partner to bring ‘Pavel’s Gulag Getout’ to life. Together, we aim to create a game that is not only challenging and fun, but also deeply immersive and emotionally impactful.”

Pavel’s Gulag Getout will release “late 2024” on the Meta Quest platform and Steam.