Monster Train Studio Ready To Impress Again With Inkbound

Monster Train’s team has been working hard on their latest roguelike twist. The studio’s earlier project found players navigating a train on its way through hell, using deckbuilding card mechanics to fight one challenging battle after the next. The Inkbound team is sticking to the roguelike strategy, although almost all other aspects are moving in a different direction.

Each player controls a different character as they navigate through Atheneum. This magical place is where many stories are born and brought to life. Books are the basis of realms that players can enter and shape. Each player uses MOBAs and isometric RPGs to guide them through their fictional worlds. They then paint the ground using area-of-effect abilities that help bring down any creatures they encounter.

Inkbound is a game that can be played with one player or up to four people simultaneously. Shiny Shoe has an interesting approach to allowing multiple players to participate in the tactical battles.

The focus is on character growth over the course of a given run through new powers and bonuses, but you can also collect glyphs that carry over between your runs; glyphs can be spent in any given session to open up new missions, paths, or other beneficial situations, but there’s also more to spend in a given run than glyphs you can earn, so it’s critical to save those glyphs for a run-through where they’ll make a difference.

Every player has the option to focus their effort around a specific playstyle. Magma Miner, a melee-oriented fighter who can set enemies on fire, is heavy. The Mosscloak, a swift-moving fighter who specializes in quick strikes or critical hits, is fast. Double shielded, the Obelisk helps tank the party. The more damage the class takes, the greater the Obelisk’s ability to deal with. With a strong drive towards creating elaborate combinations, the Weaver also creates threads for enemies to damage and debuff.

Aesthetically, Inkbound’s isometric presentation is bright and inviting, with vibrant color and light usage, mildly cartoony visuals, and a frenetic pace to exploration and combat that keeps the action light and breezy. At certain moments, it reminded me of visual palettes I’ve seen in games like Torchlight and World of Warcraft. An early demo revealed that characters emerged into arena spaces where they could fight. The key to success was careful upgrade selection before the fight, and clever positioning when confronting any monsters.

Strategy roguelikes are able to overcome almost impossible odds, whether they use card decks and isometric turn-based battles in arenas. Shiny Shoe already proved its prowess in building games that are both challenging and deep with its final project. Still, Inkbound exists. It is best to start earlyThis is my, however It is best to start early (maybe use a different word so it’s not “early” essentially back to back like that) glimpse suggests the team is applying the lessons it learned and shaping a new project that might be just as fascinating as its last, albeit with a completely different look and vibe.

Inkbound hopes to be released on PC by 2023.