Syberia: The World Before (2022)
Benoît Sokal's Posthumous Masterwork Weaving 1937 Vaghen and 2004 Into One Symphony
Syberia: The World Before is a narrative adventure developed by Microïds Studio Paris and Koalabs, initiated by creator Benoît Sokal—who passed away in May 2021 during production—and co-directed by Lucas Lagravette for release in March 2022. Hailed as a triumphant return to form, it intertwines Kate Walker's 2004 search with young pianist Dana Roze's life in 1937 Vaghen beneath the rising fascist Brown Shadow movement.
Dual-Timeline Storytelling Across 1937 Vaghen and 2004
Escaping forced labor in a Siberian salt mine in 2004 after uncovering a 1937 Gouache portrait of a young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to herself, Kate Walker journeys across Europe to the picturesque city of Vaghen. Co-directors Benoît Sokal and Lucas Lagravette structure gameplay across two resonating eras: in 1937, gifted Voralberg-descended pianist Dana Roze confronts anti-minority pogroms led by the totalitarian Brown Shadow party and joins alpine resistance forces at Silberspiegel, while nearly seventy years later Kate reconstructs Dana's forgotten fate through clockwork music boxes, archival letters, and dual-character environmental puzzles.
Inon Zur's Piano Score, Artistic Farewell to Sokal, and Critical Acclaim
Passing away in May 2021 ten months before launch, Benoît Sokal left behind his most personal meditation on memory, European fascism, and artistic resilience, brought to completion by Lagravette and the Paris-Koalabs teams. Composer Inon Zur, featuring solo piano performances by prodigy Emily Bear, crafted a sweeping symphonic score that functioned directly as a narrative bridge between Vaghen's concert halls and war-torn ruins. Universally praised for its refined cinematic camera work, intuitive controls, and emotional payoff, The World Before won Best PC Game at Gamescom and stands as a crowning farewell to Sokal's clockpunk legacy.