Inkblood Preview – A Dark Puzzle Box Mystery of Ritual Murders

Ever since Papers, Please made interface-driven investigation compelling, several games have followed suit, turning mundane deduction into engaging puzzles. Inkblood fits right into that lineage. It’s an upcoming title where you solve cultic murders from the comfort of your carriage, and I got to work through a couple of cases.

Uphold the Inquisition

During the demo, I tackled two murders. Each investigation plays out entirely from your carriage, which is equipped with a handful of tools. You can peer into the past at specific moments using a magnifying glass to uncover what might have happened, zoom into scenes, take photographs, and interact with your surroundings to catch anything you might have missed. Each case also comes with a set of questions you’ll need to answer to reach a conclusion.

The first case is fairly straightforward, but the second one, involving a burned inn and a group of musicians, is where things click. It pushed me to really examine the items I collected, study the clues, and piece everything together. All of this unfolds through an analog, almost diegetic interface that feels responsive and tactile. The final build is apparently set to expand on this even further.

Everything you find can be laid out inside the carriage, and some items only reveal their true nature when held up to the light. It’s immersive, and the snappy menus make the whole process feel smooth. Once you’re done, you make a call from the carriage to confirm whether your deduction holds up.

There’s little to no hand-holding, which fits the tone, but some mechanics could be communicated better. In the second case, for example, you’re given a few instruments, and unless you interact with very specific parts multiple times, there’s no clear indication they do anything beyond producing sound. A bit more visual feedback here would go a long way without making things too easy.

The second case is easily the highlight, but it’s the art that really sells Inkblood. It’s creepy, charming, and occasionally funny, making even gruesome murders feel oddly playful. There’s also a lot of detail to catch when switching between timelines.

Overall, Inkblood has the makings of a strong detective game, with a stylish gothic interface that fits its cult-driven murder mysteries perfectly.

Inkblood Demo

If you want to try out Inkblood yourself, you can join the playtest on Steam and provide feedback to the developers.

The two cases give you plenty of time to interact with Inkblood’s base mechanics, and I think it’s a great time to provide feedback to improve the final experience. Inkblood is coming to PC this year. The full game will feature 10 different cases, improved interaction within the carriage, more polish, and enhanced art as well.