The Kickstarter campaign launched for “Hiveswap” back in 2012 was as highly sought-after as the webcomic it originated from. The creator of “Homestuck”, Andrew Hussie, managed to raise an astonishing $2.5 million to transform everyone’s beloved comic centered around a computer game into an actual computer game.

Originally, “Hiveswap” was a joint venture between Hussie and The Odd Gentlemen. However, the latter departed to focus on a new “King’s Quest” game. Subsequently, Hussie’s production company, What Pumpkin, doubled up as a game studio to take over the development. Initially planned for a 2014 release, as one might anticipate, the change in hands led to several delays. Fast-forward a few years with scarce updates, and now we find ourselves on the verge of a “Homestuck” game with monsters lurking everywhere!

You’ll commence the game as a girl trapped in your room while monsters are closing in on your house and battering your door. Your brother is stuck outside in the treehouse, so you’d better gather your courage and open the door.

“Hiveswap” will be made available on September 14 for PC, Max, and Linux via Steam and the Humble Store. You can acquire it for $7.99 or get it bundled with its soundtrack for $11.99. This initial release will be Act 1 in a four-part series set within the “Homestuck” universe. A companion series named “Hauntswitch” will follow, but it’s not a direct sequel. Thus, you can play them in either sequence, and your save files can transfer from act to act and game to game, signifying that your choices will hold significance.

“Hiveswap” harks back to the ’90s adventure games without the frustration of being constantly informed that you can’t undertake certain actions. You’ll be rewarded with creative messages for every action you take. So, “no dream-logic solutions, no hearing the same ‘those items don’t work together’ message repeatedly.” Its diverse soundtrack was partially composed by Toby Fox, the creator of “Undertale”, who is a huge fan of “Homestuck”.

“It took some time to assemble the precisely right team to create the kind of game I envisioned this to be. A great deal of patience was required from everyone, especially the fans, but I believe it was worth the wait,” said Hussie. “It has turned out to be precisely the kind of game I’d be eager to play.”

I never delved into “Homestuck”, not due to a lack of interest. By the time I realized it was my cup of tea, it seemed like an overly intimidating commitment. “Hiveswap” should present the ideal opportunity to discover what all the excitement is about, especially considering it’s being crafted in the style of games like “Sam & Max Hit the Road”, another lighthearted game based on a comic that references its source material while warmly welcoming new fans.