Inkshade is an indie roguelite that is here to take you into a world of mysteries to uncover.
If we are going to talk about Inkshade, we can’t without the mention of the developers: Studio Vezelle. A turn-based tactical roguelite isn’t a new concept by any means. But what Studio Vezelle has done here with Inkshade is that they have drawn inspiration from classics in the genre to create their very own version of a demonic, otherworldly setting that’s drawing comparisons to Inscryption.
You’d be wrong in thinking that the game is an Inscryption clone, because the game, as well as the developers, deserves more credit than that. Although yes, visually the two may be identical, Studio Vezelle is not trying to imitate; rather, they attempt to draw inspiration, which is allowed, especially in the indie gaming space and even more so for a developer that’s up and coming. It is safe to say that Inkshade has taken all the right lessons from Inscryption.
Now let’s jump right into storytelling. There’s nothing significant here, one may think, but for a turn-based tactical roguelite that’s essentially Dungeons and Dragons meets Inscryption, you do get a sucker punch of surprises narrative-wise.
The setting holds complexity whilst not being the center point of the game, too. You start off with the Wretch. A player can plan out which pieces to bring to their starting crew, how they will attack the world map’s branches, and which pieces they will attempt to add to their crew as they go from run to run. Taking on different branches first or last will change how you approach a full run.
Depending on their priorities, players will select various encounters from a procedurally generated map within each branch. These encounters may include a fast path to the next boss, additional money for meta-progression, more pieces for the current run, or numerous other special encounters and factors. This is the type of stuff you’d die for, being a roguelite fan. It provides a satisfying gameloop, but again, a roguelite lover isn’t going to be playing Inkshade for the plot, are they?
Different classes have different skill sets. Some are great at tanking hits, for example. Depending on the upgrade paths available to each class, you can try to build a balanced team to avoid being caught off guard by the various maps, enemies, and damage types; max out your favorites; or develop lower-tier pieces into specialized roles. Additionally, some pieces have unique, semi-secret abilities, such as the ability to attack over walls and other pieces or the ability to illuminate dark combat maps.
You can select your path and encounter a very sizable amount of enemy types on your runs, which may initially start slow but pick up the pace as you gear up for a battle of meta progression and wit. You can explore a stunning map that includes not only strategic combat but also special events, lore exposition, and loot. As aforementioned, for Inscryption fans, you’d be familiar with the template.
Moving pieces around and determining the best course of action can sometimes feel like a chore, but they are incredibly rewarding when you pull them off. As for the escape rooms they have introduced in Inkshade that you solve in between rounds, they are incredibly detailed, as there are secrets to unravel and lore to discover as you solve challenging puzzles in them.
As for gameplay, the game offers a board game-esque experience but also provides combat that’s very Fire Emblem-like, but the switch between puzzles and combat is uniquely executed and, in some cases, better than how Inscryption does it.
Now talking about combat in Inkshade, it is worth noting that although it’s not for everyone, we found it ample for a roguelite of its stature. Inkshade will feel familiar to fans of your average roguelites; there’s nothing much to boast about here. There are a ton of distinct locations and aesthetics along each of the three primary routes you have to select. Even when replaying the same boards across your many runs, the environments never fail to impress.
One downside here is that whenever you encounter even a mini-boss, for example, the game makes you feel like you aren’t ready for it. The game’s difficulty curve is a common complaint. The difficulty is excessively ruthless, especially to someone new to the world of roguelites. But the difficulty here is deliberate. Inkshade is meant to frustrate you. That is how you upgrade your troops to make your runs more enjoyable.
How do you really upgrade your troops then? Using Scrim, a currency you earn during your runs, to upgrade your troops in between games creates an extremely compelling game loop where you try to go as far as you can in a run in order to upgrade your troops as much as you can to extend your next run. Scrims are hard to come by initially, but as you progress further, they start to accumulate, and the game does a good job at being generous with your upgrade points.
The atmosphere is top-notch. The art style is very dark, but it’s also enchanting; it’s not your typical happy-go-lucky roguelite, but Studio Vezelle, being a solo developer, has done a commendable job at keeping the graphics in tune with the narrative; they just capture the vibe really well. It’s eerie, it’s a roguelite, it’s an RPG, it’s a board game—what does Inkshade not do?
The sound design, too, perfectly blends with the graphics, as they never overshadow gameplay but still add to the atmosphere by keeping you on your toes. The narration and dialogue are also well executed; they invite you to uncover the mysteries that lie ahead of you.
Some may bring up Inscryption comparisons, but Inkshade is here to make a name for itself, and we are here to give it just that. Although the difficulty curve could be a little too overbearing, you’ll not find it as punishing once you upgrade your crew; within approximately 20 hours of playtime, you’ll be getting on Inkshade. The complaint here is we need more of it, and that’s always a good complaint to have for any studio.
Inkshade blends RPG, roguelite, and a board game on a hex grid, all in one. For the price they’ve launched Inkshade at, it’s a roguelite haven, so make sure you pick it up on Steam, as we hope this is the start of Studio Vezelle’s indie kingdom.
