How narratively driven is this story?

[Forblaze]

I'm trying not to spoil myself too much because I intend to play it with friends. Is this a primarily sandbox game like rust or is it narrative driven?

[CombatWombat]

The game is much more linear than Rust. And the aim is imo to provide a sandbox like experience for a story. E.g everyone always starts at the same point. While you can have multiple bases the "story" can't be played by latecomers. It is much more coop than vs.

The benefit is that we likely get an awesome story, the downside is, that it is not as open as rust.

[Monokuma]

It's linear and narrative driven, but not in a way where you're being dragged along the road against your will. Think dark souls level structure, where you're primarily interacting with a zone, opening shortcuts alongside it to eventually reach the path to the next zone, but also, like dark souls, being able to return to the prior zone to do whatever it is you want to do there.

Except here you're making your own bonfires.

[MechWarden]

It's a bit like Subnautica, in that your progression will open up new areas, which in turn opens up new stuff you can make. It is kind of sandbox like, but you have to progress the story to get to open up other areas and craft neater things.

That said, you aren't overtly pushed by some time limit to do things, but it is recommended to have some flow towards the main goal.

[Iraneth The Goat]

I'd say its comparable to Subnautica, You do things to go farther to unlock more story to do things that open more areas.