[What does it take to survive in a space prison? That, at least, is the premise of Space Prison. The newly announced, and literally brilliantly titled, game bills itself as a "social survival" game. Playing as a human prisoner surrounded by strange and terrifying alien thugs, you move up the hierarchy of major gangs to gain power and influence, and must be as much a diplomat as a brawler to prosper.

That means helping your fellow prisoners, networking with them, and listening to what they have to say. Just because that man is a hideous skull-faced monster doesn't mean there isn't a tragic backstory behind the space crimes committed in the space prison. You can make friends with the local rats that infest it, or you can apparently create "an army of long-toothed vermin ready to die for you". It's like an earth prison.

When words fail you and fists start flying, the action shifts to the tactical grid, a turn-based battle that pits your character and allies against everything from enemy gangs to brutal cyborg guards to mutant beasts. Expect a series of attacks and special abilities. Already, we've seen Others unleashing debuffing roars, bugs releasing poisonous gas, and guards unleashing gruesome blitz attacks in an attempt to restore law and order.

It's early days, and so far the only footage we have is the announcement trailer, but I see great potential here. If the developer can realize its ambitions, this would be a great setting for emergent storytelling, allowing one to organically carve one's own path from unknown newcomer to cosmic kingpin. Dare I say it, the gang screen smacks of the Nemesis system from Shadow of Mordor. The grim, cartoonish art style also brings the setting and its strange inhabitants to life, striking the perfect balance between horror and silliness required of a "space prison" game.