A new visual novel titled 'A Line Held Tight' is set to explore themes of workers' rights and industrial action. The game places players in a distant future, deep beneath the surface of an isolated planet, where a colony of miners works in harsh conditions.
Players will assume the role of an unpopular employee known as the Canary, who must decide whether to support colleagues in a looming strike against suppression. The narrative will involve navigating personal and political struggles within a monochrome world.
Humble Grove, the three-person team behind the game, drew inspiration for the trade union story from the video game industry's growing interest in unions amid mass layoffs. Co-founder Cel Davison stated their interest in telling a story about a trade union comes from this situation.
The game uses the Narrat engine to provide a dynamic story influenced by player choices. It features a traditional folk soundtrack and visuals resembling charcoal sketches, which were inspired by drawings at the Wakefield Coal Mining Museum.