Heat Signature (video game)

Heat Signature is a 2017 top-down, single-player, action-stealth video game developed and published by Suspicious Developments, a company founded by Tom Francis, previously known for Gunpoint. The game focuses on tactical infiltration of procedurally generated spaceships to complete missions.

Players control bounty hunters in a future setting where humanity has spread amongst the stars. The core gameplay loop involves accepting contracts from various factions, hijacking spaceships, and completing objectives, such as assassinating targets, rescuing prisoners, or stealing items.

A defining feature of Heat Signature is its emphasis on emergent gameplay arising from player experimentation and the physics-based simulation of the game world. Players are given a range of gadgets and abilities to use during missions, but are also encouraged to use the environment to their advantage. Failure often results in humorous or unexpected outcomes.

Upon death, the player character retires, passing their equipment to a new character. This encourages players to experiment with different playstyles and prevents complete loss upon failure.

Heat Signature has been praised for its innovative mechanics, replayability, and the emergent storytelling that arises from its dynamic gameplay. It is available for Windows and Linux.