Inkle, the developer behind the fantastic mobile text adventure80 Daysand the Sorcery seriesannouncedits most ambitious project yet:Heaven’s Vault, a visual adventure coming to mobile, desktop, and consoles. Described as “a character-driven graphic novel crossed with an open-world adventure game,” Inkle has been developing this sci-fi saga since it completed80 Days.
“The Nebula. A network of rivers, flowing from one moon to the next, carrying air and water between scattered clusters of civilization. No one knows how the Nebula was formed. No one knows how it will end,”Inkle’s promotional text reads.
You play as archaeologist Aliya “El” Elasra and her reluctant robot assistant Six to explore this mysterious setting and “piece together a complex past — and discover a secret that will change the future.” Expect Inkle’s usual standard of fantastic writing and nuanced, conversation-driven gameplay. Other cited gameplay influences that seem to be expanding their repertoire include “the animation and real-time storytelling ofBuy Now,” “the open worlds ofShadow of the Colossus,FirewatchandBuy Now,” “the puzzle-solving ofThe Witness,”and “the translation puzzle of Infocom’s classic gameInfidel.”
Contrasting Inkle’s previous, predominantly text-based gameplay,Heaven’s Vaultwill be fully realized in a unique style that integrates hand-drawn, 2D characters into 3D environments. They mention the graphic novels ofMöebiusandHergéas visual influences, as well as the character art ofThe Banner Saga. Miscellaneous inspiration also includes Indiana Jones, Stargate, the novels of Raymond Chandler and Gene Wolfe, Islamic art and architecture, and the work ofDr. Monica Hannain protecting Egypt’s antiquities. All together it sounds like a compelling stew of gameplay, aesthetic, and world-building ideas, made all the more exciting because of its developer’s strong and interesting track record.
There is no release window yet forHeaven’s Vault, but you can follow the development updates on the game’sofficial site.
