The Lift Playtest is a first-person simulation game about restoring the Institute, a research facility damaged by a catastrophic incident. The player wakes from stasis and works as a maintenance specialist. The goal is to bring sections of the facility back online while learning what happened there. The 2026 playtest contains about two to three hours of the game and includes the reworked Post Office floor.

Story and Setting

The story is delivered through exploration, conversations, quests, environmental details, and objects found around the Institute. The facility is divided into floors, with the Lift serving as a mobile base and transportation between areas. In the available build, the player works through an introductory section and the Post Office, while other locations are reserved for the full game.

Repair and Exploration

Gameplay is based on inspecting damaged rooms and machines, finding the problem, and choosing the required repair method. Tasks include replacing parts, cleaning dark material, fixing furniture, reconnecting cables, and repairing electrical systems. More technical jobs involve installing components, routing power, and restoring circuits. Materials can be collected, recycled, purchased, or used for crafting.

During the playtest, players can:

•         repair furniture, generators, vending machines, and other equipment;
•         clean blocked areas with specialized tools;
•         solve wiring and circuit problems;
•         collect components and craft repair items;
•         complete main tasks, side quests, and optional puzzles.

Progress is tied to restoring areas and opening access to new rooms. The Post Office includes offices, service spaces, a lecture room, hidden areas, puzzles, and repair objectives. Some sections require specific tools or items before they can be entered. NPC interactions and optional tasks are also included, so repairs are connected to story progression rather than existing as a separate activity.

How to Play

You move through the environment in first person, inspect interactive objects, gather materials, and use tools from the inventory when a repair requires them. A typical task involves checking a broken device, finding or crafting the needed part, placing it correctly, and reconnecting its systems. The playtest is a work-in-progress build, so some textures, voice lines, and other elements may still be unfinished.