The City of Ink is about to become the stage for a bloody conspiracy as IM/MORTAL Studios prepares to launch Darkway: Murder of King Mere on Steam this fall. This painterly-pixel murder mystery takes players into the Dog Empyre’s darkest hour, a world where loyalty runs as deep as blood and betrayal carries teeth, according to a press release. Inspired by narrative adventures like Disco Elysium, the game puts you in the role of the Master Detective’s Apprentice, arriving four days too late to a murder that could unravel an entire kingdom.

King Mere, once hailed as a beacon of peace for the Dog Empyre, lies dead in the snow. His brother August has already been accused, but the Apprentice’s arrival makes it clear that this case won’t be solved with easy answers. In the City of Ink, where diplomacy has died alongside its king, every clue leads to another question, and every ally may be an enemy in disguise. Was the regicide an act of vengeance or the tip of a conspiracy that threatens the entire Empyre? The choices you make will determine not just who you expose, but whether justice or corruption prevails.

Darkway offers a noir-inspired detective thriller with a unique artistic approach. The painterly-pixel visuals blur the line between painting and pixel art, giving each scene a moody, atmospheric look. Players will navigate branching conversations with over 20 fully voiced characters, gathering evidence and building trust while trying not to end up behind bars or in a shallow grave. Movement is as fluid as the investigation itself, with parkour mechanics that let you scale castle walls, leap across rooftops, and slip through alleys as you follow a trail that’s already running cold. Multiple endings add weight to every decision, ensuring no two investigations play out the same way. The game’s content is shown off in its brilliant pre-release trailer.

Darkway: Murder of King Mere is developed by IM/MORTAL Studios, led by Pierce Papke, who brings years of character design experience from Nexon Korea’s Dave the Diver and Hero Forge. The team’s focus on emotionally resonant storytelling is clear, blending noir intrigue with an anthropomorphic world where justice is anything but simple. Players can wishlist the game now on Steam ahead of its fall 2025 release.