Inked is an upcoming puzzle-platformer that depicts a tale of love and vengeance. Told through ink on paper, players adopt the role of the Nameless Hero who is on a search for his lost love, unraveling a journey that will changed them forever.
A unique narrative and visual perspective is emulated through Inked as players see the world through the eyes of Adam, a comic book artist, and creator of the Nameless Hero. The world is depicted through simplistically drawn geometric shapes that derive the puzzles that will need solving to progress. Each puzzle mastered will bring Adam closer to his love, Aiko, with the story slowly piecing together Adam and the Nameless Hero as one whole character. The world appears more like a rough sketch than a finished drawing given that no surface is fully colored in, and blues or reds, which are often used for sketching, are the main colors depicted.
The game opens with a blank piece of paper laying on a desk. A hand begins to write out the story, and draw the world players are about to inhabit. The Nameless Hero and Aiko are drawn out, with only a sketched out heart separating them, before Aiko is cut out of the picture, and put off to the side. Players can take on the role of the artist to help solve the puzzles, with erasers and ink pens at their disposal to create bridges, erase unwanted barriers, and draw items that may come to life. The “Creator” is a pernicious force that is present throughout the journey, who may see themselves as a God for manufacturing this world, but may also be presenting a multitude of traps along the way. It is up to the player to remain one step ahead, and juggle all challenges that stand in the way of finding Aiko.
Inked will be available on Steam April 26.