Cellar
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
CELLAR - six strangers and a machine...
James wakes up in a small room with a naked bulb and a sink that doesn't work.
He's inside the facility. Remote, underground, isolated.
One of only six, he's been hired as part of an inexperienced skeleton crew. All of them are new to the job. And although each has a different reason for it, they've all chosen the isolation.
The base is dark, dank, and full of things that don't look like they should be there. And at the heart of it all is one machine, a glowing screen with a grid of numbers and two buttons. They're not told what it's for, only that it must be kept running, at all times of day, for a month. And that's it.
30 days of solitude, tasks, and other people.
Welcome to CELLAR.
CELLAR is a story-focused game that takes place over 30 days, lasting around eight hours of gameplay. Events, character movements and dialogue are all unique and carefully crafted for each day.
Gameplay is split between story events and carrying out a series of simple tasks, although many story events change gameplay in unconventional manners.
- Submit daily reports on the PC
- Pick some music from the CD collection
- Take your turn on the machine
- Hang out with the others
- Feed the fish
- Play piano duets
- Wait for it all to be over
Take your time. The game won't start without you.
Download
Development log
- Small Difficulty PatchSep 14, 2022
- Cellar - September PatchSep 13, 2022
- Cellar - ReleasedAug 04, 2022
Comments
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Hello, came to this after Type Help and quite enjoying it.
Not finished but I have a question (ROT13): qbrf gur abgr nobhg gur pnzrenf ba gur pbzchgre zrna nalguvat? V gevrq tbvat gb gur vaqvpngrq ybpngvbaf naq vagrenpgvat ohg abguvat unccrarq. I kept doing my chores on the way though, so if you need to do everything in order and nothing else, that might explain it.
Lbh qvqa'g zvff nalguvat. Qnivq fnlf fbzrguvat nobhg gung abgr ba qnl rvtugrra.
ROT47:
Qyi w2G6 J@F D66? H92EVD HC:EE6? @? E96 ?@E6A25nQ
Qsi *629] w2??29 HC@E6 E92E 2D 2 AC2?<]Q
Thanks, I thought it might be something like that.
I've since finished the game and would love to speculate about the plot (and anything I might have missed) - it's a shame more people haven't played.
I also came here after playing Type Help, and Cellar wasn't what I expected it would be, but it's an experience that's going to sit with me for a long time. I feel like I've bonded with these characters after going through such a bizarre, drawn-out, and sometimes traumatic expereince together.
I was curious enough to unpack and browse through the game files after finishing, and along with re-playing a few sections I was able to confirm a few things, but there are still a lot of questions that don't have in-game answers.
A few things I missed the first time around:
Gur fgbel ba gur yrsg fvqr bs gur obbxfurys.
Gur cynlnoyr PQf ba gur furyirf va gur yvivat ebbz. V guvax V znlor fnj gurz bapr ba gur frpbaq qnl naq gura cebzcgyl sbetbg nobhg gurz jvgubhg rire cynlvat gurz, naq gura ol gur gvzr V tbg gb gur raq V sbetbg gurl jrer rira gurer.
One thing that I thought and ended up being wrong about in the middle of the game:
Jura Fbcuvr fnvq gung Yhxr jnf fvpx, ohg sbe n srj qnlf abobql ryfr orfvqrf ure rire jrag vagb uvf ebbz be fnj uvz gb pbasvez uvf pbaqvgvba, V srnerq gur jbefg naq V gubhtug gur punenpgref jrer tbvat gb fgneg qlvat bss bar ol bar.
A couple other things I had been curious about:
V unq jbaqrerq nobhg gur PQ va gur uvqqra ebbz jvgu gur unaqcevagf. Vg frrzf yvxr gur bayl jnl gb vagrenpg jvgu vg vf gb gnxr vg qverpgyl gb gur PQ cynlre jvgubhg vagrenpgvat jvgu nalguvat ryfr nybat gur jnl, naq gura jura lbh qb, vg gheaf bhg vg'f oebxra.
V unq jbaqrerq vs Fbcuvr zvtug or gur fnzr Fbcuvr gung yrsg n unaqcevag jvgu gur cerivbhf tebhc, ohg nsgre tbvat guebhtu gur svefg pbairefngvba ntnva V'z pbasvqrag gung gurl'er gjb qvssrerag crbcyr.
A few other things I was able to confirm for myself (ROT47):
%96 >@=5 DAC2J 5@6D ?@E9:?8 E@ DE@A E96 8C@HE9 @7 E96 >@=5] xED 2AA62C2?46 :D 6?E:C6=J 32D65 @? H92E 52J :E :D]
x? 724E[ ?@?6 @7 J@FC E2D<D 92G6 2 =@?8\E6C> :>A24E] *@F 42? 4@?7:C> E9:D 3J =@@<:?8 2E E96 A2C2>6E6CD E92E 86E D2G65 H:E9 J@FC 82>6 WF?56C TpAAs2E2T-#@2>:?8-v@5@E-2AA0FD6C52E2-r6==2C :? (:?5@HDX[ E96C6 2C6 @?=J 2 76H @7 E96> 2?5 ?@?6 D66> E@ C6=2E6 E@ J@FC 49@C6D @C 9@H J@F A6C7@C>65 @? E96 >249:?6] (92E 86ED D2G65 :D E96 7C:586 >28?6ED[ H96E96C J@F E@@< E96 >JDE6CJ rs 2?5^@C =67E 2 92?5AC:?E[ 2?5 >2J36 J@FC >:?6DH66A6C 9:89 D4@C6 Wx H2D?VE 23=6 E@ 255 >J :?:E:2=D 27E6C 86EE:?8 2 E@A b D4@C6 3FE >2J36 x ?665 R`X]
%96C6VD 2=D@ E96 >JDE6C:@FD QK6C@Q A2C2>6E6C[ H9:49 =@@<D =:<6 :EVD ;FDE 7@C 56G E6DE:?8[ :7 J@F D6E :E E@ ECF6 E96 E:>6 :D 7C@K6? 2E b2>[ J@F 5@?VE 86E 2?J E2D<D @C 4@?G6CD2E:@?D[ E96C6VD 2 4FDE@> ?@E6A25 >6DD286 WD:>:=2C E@ E96 52J b_ ?@E6A25 >6DD286 J@F 86E 7C@> A=2J:?8 ?@C>2==JX[ 2?5 E96 >249:?6 364@>6D 92C56C[ 2?5 5@6D?VE 6?5 3642FD6 E:>6 5@6D?VE 25G2?46[ 2?5 4=@D6D E96 82>6 H96? J@F 6G6?EF2==J =@D6]
%96C6VD D@>6 >JDE6C:@FD D4C:AE:?8 E92EVD C6=2E65 E@ s2J b` 3FE :E =@@<D =:<6 E92EVD 2=D@ 7@C 56G E6DE:?8[ E96 D4C:AE :?4=F56D 7F== 4@A:6D @7 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE >6>@C23=6 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 7C@> 62C=:6C :? E96 82>6 3FE 6249 492C24E6C @?=J 24EF2==J D2JD 2 4@FA=6 =:?6D[ :E 2=D@ 92D 2 4FDE@> ?@E6A25 >6DD286 D:>:=2C E@ 52J b_[ E:>6 5@6D?VE 25G2?46 A2DE _i__[ 2?5 E96 >249:?6 :D?VE A=2J23=6]
Some remaining questions:
(9@ H2D A=2J:?8 r9@A:?n x >:89E 8@ 324< E@ s2J ah 2?5 D@>6 @7 E96 AC6G:@FD A:2?@ 4@?G6CD2E:@?D E@ 86E >@C6 4=F6D[ 3FE x 2=D@ H@?56C :7 :E >:89E 92G6 366? :? y2>6DV 9625 2?5 H96E96C E96 >249:?6 >:89E 92G6 925 D@>6E9:?8 E@ 5@ H:E9 :E]
(9J 5@6D E96 724:=:EJ 92G6 2 D66>:?8=J 3@EE@>=6DD 23JDDn }2CC2E:G6=J :E 8:G6D E96 492C24E6CD D@>6E9:?8 E@ DE2C6 :?E@[ 3FE H:E9:? E96 82>6 H@C=5 :E 5@6D?VE >2<6 D6?D6 H9J :E H@F=5 36 E96C6] x 2=D@ H@?56C H96E96C :EVD C62==J 2D 566A 2D :E D66>D[ >2J36 :EVD ;FDE A25565 2?5 E92EVD H9J E96J 42?VE 962C 2?JE9:?8 9:E E96 3@EE@>]
w@H 5@6D 2?J@?6 @C 2?JE9:?8 86E :? 2?5 @FEn p?5 H9J 2C6 E96C6 46==D D6A2C2E6 7C@> E96 365C@@>Dn ~?6 E9@F89E :D E92E E96D6 3@E9 92G6 E96 D2>6 2?DH6C[ 2?5 >2J36 E96 46==D >@G6 =:<6 6=6G2E@CD] %96 @E96C @3G:@FD A@DD:3:=:EJ :D E92E 6G6CJE9:?8 8@6D :? 2?5 @FE E9C@F89 E96 23JDD D927E] p?5 2?@E96C E9@F89E 7@C E96 46==D :D E92E E96J >:89E 92G6 DA64:2= 7F?4E:@?D C6=2E65 E@ E96 5CF88:?8 E92E DFAA@D65=J 8@6D @? 2E E96 368:??:?8 2?5 6?5 @7 E96 2DD:8?>6?E[ H9:49 AC6DF>23=J :D?VE D@>6E9:?8 E92E J@F H@F=5 H2?E E@ 92G6 92AA6? 6G6CJ D:?8=6 ?:89E]
And then the big questions:
(92E H2D E96 AFCA@D6 @7 E96 2DD:8?>6?En (92E H2D E96 AFCA@D6 @7 E96 >249:?6n (92E H2D E96 AFCA@D6 @7 E96 724:=:EJn (6C6 E96J 6G6C :? 2?J 24EF2= 52?86C H96? E96 2=2C> H6?E @77n
r=62C=J :EVD ?@E 2 C6D62C49 DEF5J 3J 2?J C6AFE23=6 24256>:4 :?DE:EFE:@?[ E96J H@F=5 92G6 C6BF:C65 6E9:4D 3@2C5 2AAC@G2=[ 2?5 2E =62DE :?7@C>65 E96 A2CE:4:A2?ED E92E E96JVC6 E2<:?8 A2CE :? 2 DEF5J 6G6? :7 E96JVC6 ?@E :?7@C>65 @7 2== E96 56E2:=D 2E E96 DE2CE] %96J 2=D@ H@F=5 92G6 366? C6BF:C65 E@ :?4=F56 E9:?8D =:<6 6>6C86?4J 6I:ED[ 4@?E:?86?4:6D 7@C >65:42= 6>6C86?4:6D[ 6E4]
%96 724:=:EJ =@@<D =:<6 :E >FDE 36 564256D @=5[ 2?5 E96 A:2?@ C@@> >:89E AC652E6 E96 6=64EC@?:4 286] %96 724:=:EJ =@@<D =:<6 :E >:89E 92G6 DE2CE65 @FE 2D D@>6 <:?5 @7 r@=5 (2C 3F?<6C @C >:DD:=6 D:=@] %92E[ 4@>3:?65 H:E9 E96 2>@C2=:EJ @7 E96 H9@=6 D:EF2E:@?[ DF886DED D@>6 <:?5 @7 8@G6C?>6?E2= 5676?D6 @C :?E6==:86?46 286?4J :D :?G@=G65]
qFE 5@6D E96 >249:?6 24EF2==J 5@ 2?JE9:?8n x 92G6 EH@ E9@F89ED 23@FE :E[ @?6 :D 2 C62=:DE:4 2?DH6C 2?5 @?6 :D 2 7F? 2?DH6C]
%96 C62=:DE:4 2?DH6C :D E92E ?@[ E96 >249:?6 :D FD6=6DD 2?5 E96C6 H2D ?6G6C 2?J 52?86C] %96 6?E:C6 AC@;64E :D AC6>:D65 @? D@>6 <:?5 @7 ADF65@D4:6?E:7:4 ?@?D6?D6 =:<6 E96 AC@;64E E92E Q%96 |6? (9@ $E2C6 2E v@2EDQ H2D 32D65 @?] tG6CJ@?6 :?G@=G65 :? :>A=6>6?E:?8 :E <?@HD :EVD C:5:4F=@FD[ 3FE 7F?5:?8 8@E 2AAC@AC:2E65 2?JH2J[ D@ E96JVC6 8@:?8 E9C@F89 H:E9 :E 3FE ?@3@5J :D 24EF2==J :?G6DE65 :? :ED @FE4@>6] %92EVD H9J E96 42>6C2D 2C6?VE 36:?8 H2E4965 @C C64@C565[ E92EVD H9J 92=7 E96 32D6 :D :? 5:DC6A2:C[ E92EVD H9J E96C6VD ?@ D:8? E92E 2?J@?6 7C@> E96 @FED:56 :D A2J:?8 2EE6?E:@?]
%96 7F? 2?DH6C :D E92E E96JVC6 :? D@>6 <:?5 @7 $r!\DEJ=6 D:EF2E:@?[ 2?5 E96 >249:?6 D@>69@H A=2JD 2 C@=6 :? 4@?E2:?:?8 @C A=242E:?8 D@>6E9:?8 7C@> E96 23JDD] |2J36 :E =:<6D :E H96? E96 492C24E6CD DECF88=6 H:E9 E96 >2EC:I[ 2?5 86ED :CC:E2E65 H96? :E E9:?<D E96J 2C6?VE AFEE:?8 :? 6?@F89 677@CE] p?5 E96JVC6 E@E2==J 4FE @77 7C@> E96 @FED:56 H@C=5 E@ AC6G6?E E96 A@DD:3=6 DAC625 @7 D@>6 <:?5 @7 4@8?:E@92K2C5] |2J36 E96 DBF:5 5C2H:?8 :D?VE ;FDE 2 5C2H:?8]
One more fun fact from the game files:
%96C6 2C6 DAC:E6D 2?5 2 D4C:AE 7:=6 7@C 2 492C24E6C ?2>65 {F4J] q2D65 @? D:>:=2C:E:6D :? E96:C 3692G:@C[ xV> 8F6DD:?8 w2??29 H2D 96C C6A=246>6?E]
I appreciate such a detailed reply! Obviously we'll never get confirmation, but here are some of my own theories:
Gur Guerr Lbhat Dhrraf fgbel frrzrq fvtavsvpnag gb zr gbb. Zl penpxcbg vqrn vf gung Fbcuvr vf gur bar erfcbafvoyr sbe gur fvghngvba orpnhfr ure bofrffviryl ybbxvat nsgre gur bguref erfrzoyrf gur lbhatrfg dhrra pnevat sbe gur jbhaqrq oveq; nf jryy nf gur 'bgure' Fbcuvr va gur unaqcevag ebbz. Naq lrf, gur oebxra PQ jnf fhpu n gebyy zbir!
Creuncf na rppragevp ovyyvbanver jub qbrf guvf rirel fb bsgra gb sbepr svir crbcyr gb unat bhg jvgu ure? Gur fgngr bs gur snpvyvgl qbrfa'g znxr frafr vs fur unf gung xvaq bs ohqtrg gubhtu. Jung jnf vg va gur rneyl pbairefngvba gung pbaivaprq lbh vg jnfa'g ure?
V jnf nyfb nynezrq ol Yhxr'f fvpxarff - jnf guvaxvat gung rvgure Fbcuvr xvyyrq uvz bss be jnf uvqvat uvf qrngu fvapr fur jnfa'g yrggvat nalbar ryfr frr uvz, fb jnf dhvgr fhecevfrq jura ur ghearq hc nyvir naq (riraghnyyl) jryy.
Ertneqvat gur snpvyvgl vgfrys, V unq fvzvyne gubhtugf - zl nffhzcgvba jnf gung gur funsg unf fbzrguvat gb qb jvgu vaterff naq rterff. Un, V'z na FPC-sna zlfrys naq Glcr Uryc vf irel zhpu va gung irva, fb vg jbhyqa'g fhecevfr zr vs vg jnf vaqrrq n pbagnvazrag fvghngvba. V qb jbaqre vs gurer'f fbzr fvtavsvpnapr gb gur gjb unyirf bs gur onfr - jul jbhyq gurl fgbc erabingvbaf unysjnl?
I'd love to know if the dev has concrete answers to these questions in mind (even if he wouldn't share them), or if it's entirely open-ended.
While the format is quite different, you might also enjoy Her Story and Immortality by Sam Barlow - check them out if you haven't already.
Thanks for the suggestions, I enjoyed playing Her Story years ago and the Qernqshy Jvaq naq Enva song still goes through my head every once in a while. I hadn't heard of Immortality before but I just added it to my Steam and GOG wishlists and I'll check it out if I can grab it at a good discount.
Gur vqrn bs gur Pryyne cebwrpg orvat frg hc ol n qrenatrq ovyyvbanver qvq pebff zl zvaq, ohg V svtherq vs gurl jrer svkngrq ba fhpu n jrveq vqrn gung gurl'q nyfb or vairfgvat n ybg zber nggragvba vagb vg. Vs vg'f fbzrbar ba gur vafvqr, gung rkcynvaf gung nfcrpg, ohg yvxr lbh fnvq vg fgvyy yrnirf gur dhrfgvba bs jul unys gur onfr frrzf gb or fb byq naq jul vg'f fgvyy va qvfercnve.
Bar bs gur znva ernfbaf jul V gubhtug Fbcuvr jnfa'g gur unaqcevag Fbcuvr vf orpnhfr fur qvqa'g frrz snzvyvne jvgu gur ynlbhg bs gur snpvyvgl. Fur nyfb znqr gur pbzzrag nobhg abg orvat noyr gb frr urefrys trggvat gb gur raq bs guvf, juvpu fubhyq or rnfl gb vzntvar vs vg'f fbzrguvat fur'f qbar orsber. Naq gur pbzzrag nobhg cebonoyl tvivat hc vs fur unq nal pubvpr va vg. Ba gur bgure unaq, vg vf fhfcvpvbhf gung fur fgnegrq bhg ol nfxvat ubj znal ner arj, yvxr gur svefg guvat ba ure zvaq jnf gung vg'f cbffvoyr gb qb guvf zber guna bapr.
Vs shaqvat vffhrf nera'g erfcbafvoyr sbe gur fgngr bs gur byq onfr, gura znlor vg'f n fnsrgl vffhr vafgrnq. Znlor znwbe ercnve jbex jbhyq qvfgheo fbzrguvat gung fubhyqa'g or qvfgheorq.
Ertneqvat gur Pubcva zlfgrel, Fbcuvr fnlf fur nfxrq nebhaq naq abobql fnlf gurl xabj ubj gb cynl. Ohg rirelbar cynlf vg ng yrnfg n yvggyr ovg va tnzr, rira Yhxr jub pynvzf gb or n cvnab travhf naq gura bayl uvgf enaqbz abgrf va uvf qhrg jvgu Fbcuvr. Vs Pubcva jnf orvat cynlrq ol bar bs gur punenpgref, zl svefg thrff jbhyq or Unaanu. Gur ivbyn vaqvpngrf gung fur'f zhfvpnyyl vapyvarq, naq sebz gur abgrcnq cenax jr xabj fur yvxrf zrffvat jvgu crbcyr.
N pbhcyr zber gvqovgf sebz gur tnzr svyrf: Gurer'f n Tevrt svyr gung pna bayl or urneq ol rqvgvat lbhe fnir gb Qnl 31, naq gurer'f n Snheé svyr gung frrzvatyl qbrfa'g trg cynlrq va-tnzr ng nyy.
it's very unfortunate that i feel like i can't get through this part, because i paid for this and the game looks very cool.
Sorry to hear it - yeah, you have to keep it out of the red phase for about two minutes, so keeping it in the yellow is fine too. If you go into the red, it just pauses the timer until you get back into the green again.
Thanks for the feedback though, I might upload a patch later that makes it a bit easier. Let me know how you get on.
Edit: I've uploaded a patch that should make it easier and explain how it works a bit better. It should be a lot easier to get out of the red now too.
I think I prefer the old speed. Is it possible to make it an optional change?
I've been playing a few days in game each IRL night and haven't had any trouble finishing the machine section but it has been very intense. Tonight I wasn't even close to reaching red despite many errors.
It's not a big deal though if the old speed was stopping other people from playing the game.
So I did eventually figure out a way to get back into the green (spamming z until it got there by itself lmao) and I did get way better at it over time, but there is still a weird discrepancy of me being way worse at the machine than the NPCs. I think having accessibility options/being able to edit the difficulty or whatever would be cool, but thank you for the quick reply! I hope my comment didn't come off as too negative haha. I'm going to leave an actual review when I finish the game.
Apologies for necroing, but I did wonder if the day on which (ROT13) Fbcuvr frgf bss gur nynez 3 gvzrf va n ebj was meant to be a commentary on how the NPCs feel when you screw up repeatedly on your shift!
Ah, interesting... It's a difficult thing to balance for sure. Thanks for the feedback. I've uploaded a new patch that should be a bit of a better middle ground.
I think I'll try to avoid difficulty options if I can, as the machine isn't really the main focus of the game anyway... I'd prefer to try and find a good difficulty balance, but it's always an option I guess. Hopefully the alarm making the bar decrease slower should help players who were struggling before.
Thanks for the comment.
Coming back later to say I did finish the game and. I still think about it sometimes. Thank you for making this