Moebius is a globe-spanning adventure game set in the present day. As such, the locations and historical figures in the game should be familiar. With Malachi being an antiques dealer and appraiser, and with everything surrounding the Moebius Theory, history is very important in the game. People whose lives follow certain historical patterns are the most affected by this, but they’re still grounded in the present day even though their “past selves” are a major plot point.

Outside Rector’s Antiques in Manhattan

The game starts out in Manhattan, which has an important role throughout the story. Both Malachi’s apartment and his antiques shop are located there, as well as the FITA headquarters. Malachi’s shop in particular serves as a base of operations, and while there you learn a lot about Malachi and his assistant, Gretchen Stern. FITA headquarters is also a major location and many important scenes take place here throughout the game. Its look was inspired by real New York mansions, such as the John Jacob Astor Mansion on 5^th Avenue. According to Jane, “Manhattan is a place I love and I have always wanted to set a game there,” and goes on to explain how that Malachi Rector, with his life revolving around some of the finest treasures in the world, would undoubtedly want to make his home there.

The Doge Plaza in Venice

The first international location you travel to is Venice. Sent there to investigate the life and death of Bianca Cardolo, a prominent member of the community, Malachi spends his time in some of the nicer spots in Venice. The so-called “murder bridge” overlooking the canals offers clues about Bianca’s death, but it’s in the opulent Cardolo home where Malachi learns most about Bianca’s life of wealth. Malachi also stops by another antiques shop of a man he often does business with, providing a nice contrast between how they each run their business. Finally, Malachi gets to spend some time in Venice’s Doge Plaza, one of the most famous and photographed places in Venice.

The beautiful streets of Cairo

The entirety of the second chapter revolves around an appraisal job in Cairo, and though it’s a relatively short stay, quite a lot happens. There’s a bar – rather a dive, with peeling posters and a haze of smoke – near Malachi’s hotel, which proves to be a den of less than savory characters; a hostel is also nearby for those with a smaller budget; and then the office of his contact Masri, ostentatiously decorated with antiques and Egyptian artifact replicas.

A nice chateau in Paris

When Malachi starts off on his search for the woman who matches the pattern he’s looking for, the first is Paris. Outside of the hotel that he and David are staying at, the locations of note are the candidate’s house, a countryside chateau, and a library used for researching both her and the Moebius theory. The library itself is based on the real-life Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris, specifically one of the immense and beautiful reading rooms in one of its buildings. It’s a large depository of knowledge, complete with restricted archives, a book retrieval system, and computers to conduct online research. The candidate’s home in Paris shows how well-off she is, filled with antiques and other elaborate décor. While little is shown of the chateau, we are shown glimpses of lovely gardens and a well-manicured and immense lawn where visitors can enjoy the outdoors.

Nice house

The other potential candidate resides in Zurich, where the search is concentrated entirely within her home. It’s a veritable mansion which, like the others, shows that this family comes from wealth. The Zurich mansion is actually inspired by the real life Nemours Mansion of Wilmington, Delaware, with similar architecture and interior design. There is also a formal garden attached to the mansion, showcasing some hedge maze-like sections leading to secluded groves of flowers and statues honoring Greek goddesses.

Jane mentions that it’s no accident that many of the locations visited in the game scream wealth. “The plot of the game has to do with tracking down a very wealthy and prestigious woman, so the locations are where such a person would live.” From Manhattan to Paris to Venice and more, Moebius will send players on an epic journey all over the world, investigating beautiful places and meeting many interesting people.

Serena Nelson
Social Media Intern
Phoenix Online Studios