Inkbound is a new co-op roguelite by the makers of Monster Train. The game is a colorful fast-paced turn-based RPG that reminds us of Torchlight.
Inkbound is a Cooperative Roguelite that Invokes Torchlight Vibes
Roguelites are a game of persistence - learning mechanics and patterns all while balancing risk versus reward. Permadeath is always looming its ugly head, eager to send players to their demise and restart the game all over again. However, that’s definitely part of the appeal of games in this genre.
Co-op isn’t something that is regularly featured in Roguelites. We recently sawShip of Fools, a budding hand-drawn entry into the genre. Today, we take a sneak peek at Inkbound, the follow-up game of Monster Train creators Shiny Shoe.
Bound for Inkbound!
Inkbound is a cooperative roguelite by Shiny Shoe. The thing that pops out the most about Inkbound is its colorful aesthetic, which brings back memories of games such asTorchlight. The cartoony ink-splattered visuals look timeless and are fitting for the tone of the rest of the game.
Players are taken to the wonderful world of Atheneum, a land where rich stories literally come to life. Inklings, beings made out of ink, have started gaining sentience and jump to life right out of the pages in which they were written. Some ancient evil force has started causing these problems, unraveling the world as we know it.
It will be up to the players to become the legendary Inkbound and ensure that the stories and legends will never die. Who knows, maybe we’ll even discover the source of our own creation?
The Pen is Mightier than the Sword
Inkbound players will start the game off by choosing a character class for that run. As of writing, there seem to be three classes available: the mighty Magma Miner, the agile Mosscloak, and an unnamed shield user. The team at Shiny Shoe is sure to add more to the game, but the randomness of the genre is sure to have tons of content already available for the existing classes.
As mentioned, Inkbound is a cooperative game. Demo footage shows that there can be two players adventuring together, though it hasn’t been confirmed what the maximum number of players can group up.
Players will go about like usual Roguelites: they will be presented with branching paths. Each destination will contain various random occurrences that will test their resolve. Battles, merchants, and events will all be engaging and plentiful.
Fighting with Ink
Inkbound’s combat is another unique thing about the game, aside from the gorgeous art style. Fights will be turn-based but at the same time quite faster in pace than most. Players will be able to take their actions simultaneously, or in any order that they wish. This allows them to plan chain attacks carefully. Perhaps the Magma Miner Inkbound can knock down the enemy while the Mosscloak attacks the exposed weak points for maximum damage?
Movement and combat skills in Inkbound are both bound to the players’ mana pools. Players must then carefully balance whether they need to reposition themselves or whether they want to deal damage. Once all players’ mana has been depleted, they must end their turns. If everyone is out of mana, the enemy Inklings can then take their actions against the players.
Actions and movement are a lot faster in Inkbound when compared to most turn-based games such asKing Arthur: Knight’s TaleorWarhammer 40000 Chaos Gate: Daemon Hunters. Things happen so quickly in fact, that you may even think that the game is anARPGdressed up differently. This is deliberate, and something that Shiny Shoes hopes will make the game feel more fun and enjoyable.
Like with any Roguelite, players will be presented with tons of choices in terms of Bindings or Upgrades that they will focus on. Players can choose to specialize in only a handful of skills, being the best they can be at Leaping Strike or Sweep, for example. Or they have the choice to become jack-of-all-trades and masters of none, putting minor upgrades into everything. They will also be able to augment these upgrades with various items and treasures that they find throughout a game run.
The Shiniest Shoes
Inkbound will also provide players dozens of ways to visually customize their in-game avatars. Players can choose to dress up their characters in highly advanced robotic armor or adorn their Inkbound withValkyrie-like wings. This is your story, and the developers want you to remember that.
Speaking of story, Inkbound is also being touted as a “Living Game”. This seems to mean that there will be daily, weekly, and monthly changes to the game, ensuring the experience keeps on feeling fresh.
How long the team at Shiny Shoes can keep this up is anyone’s guess. But considering that they are no strangers to the Roguelite genre, then Inkbound seems to have the right hand holding the quill. Their previous game, Monster Train, is a super successful indie story. The card-based Roguelite Monster Train has received overwhelmingly positive critical acclaim.
You Got Some Ink on my Shoes!
Inkbound is bound to release sometime in 2023. No price has been announced just yet. They did mention that the game will initially enter Early Access before a full launch.
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