Set in an alternate reality in 1897, the two prominent inventors Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison fight for technological predominance on the globe.

Close to the Sun almost exclusively takes place on the colossal sea cruiser Helios; operated by Tesla, it serves as a hub for the world's most successful scientists and inventors.

[6][7] Game play focuses on acquiring inventory objects and solving puzzles, interspersed with chase sequences where the player runs away from a killer or monster.

Most of the game takes places on the Helios, a gigantic ocean liner named after the Greek god of the sun, intended by Tesla to serve as a "haven for the greatest scientific minds".

[9] The Helios is the largest ship in the world, containing laboratories, personal quarters, gardens, an internal rail system, and a large Tesla Tower.

The game opens with protagonist Rose Archer boarding the Helios after receiving a mysterious letter from her sister Ada, who works onboard as a lead researcher.

Upon entering the living quarters, Rose discovers the mutilated bodies of several scientists, as well as the words, "Time is not a River" and "The Circle must be Broken" scrawled on the walls in blood.

She also reveals the game is set in a one-electron universe, and that the ship's seemingly endless supply of electricity was being pulled from time itself.

Rose finds herself near an observation deck to the surgery area and briefly reunites with Ada, however Exotic Energy begins to flood the room.

He wanted to take Ada's research, use it to seal the rift caused by the experiment, and use his heroics to return to Tesla's good graces.

[10] IGN reviewed the game positively, writing, "While the sometimes-obtuse puzzles and slow pacing can cause frustration and repetition, this is a harrowing and thoughtfully designed adventure from start to finish.

"[20] Adventure Gamers praised the unique setting, visual design, voice acting, and alternate history backstory, while criticizing the slow movement speeds, lack of substantial player interaction, technical issues, and overreliance on jump scares and clunky chase scenes.

[21] Push Square similarly awarded the PS4 port with 6/10 stars, appreciating the environment design, thick atmosphere, and intriguing setting while disliking the narrative climax and the game's inability to remain engaging.

[22] Nintendo Life gave the Switch port 5/10 stars and loved the world and tense atmosphere but cited the technical sacrifices, poorly executed premise, and lack of scariness as major drawbacks.