The Headliners

The Headliners places players in a collapsing New York City where unknown creatures roam the streets, and photography becomes both weapon and objective. You operate as one of up to eight field reporters, each equipped with a camera and a press pass, tasked with documenting events as they unfold. The city is broken into sectors, some blocked off by debris, others still partially intact. Exploration involves entering damaged buildings, scanning alleyways, and moving through unstable areas. The threat is constant, but so is the need to record what happens.

Every Shot Has a Cost

As the group moves through each location, players must decide what to photograph—evidence of destruction, signs of alien presence, or moments of extreme danger. Capturing these scenes puts the team at risk, especially when the creatures respond to light or movement. If a teammate is lost during an assignment, that too becomes part of the story. Your camera is the only tool available, and the timing of each shot determines both safety and value. The more intense the image, the higher the potential reward, but staying too long in one place often means not returning at all.

Publishing to Survive

At the end of each run, players review their photos and submit them for publication. Only the most compelling images make it to the headlines, and successful coverage is the only way to earn new press passes. With only three available at the start, each outing is a calculated risk. A failed mission means no second chance unless previous coverage was strong enough to support continued access. The game revolves around decision-making under pressure, using documentation as the only means to push forward in a collapsing world.