Square Enix Collective will bring Tokyo Dark, an anime-inspired point-and-click adventure from Tokyo-based developer Cherrymochi, to PC via Steam on Sept. 7.
Tokyo Dark puts players in the role of Detective Ayami Itō as she explores the streets of Tokyo in an attempt to find her missing partner, whose disappearance is somehow connected to urban legends of a mysterious door deep within the city’s sewers. Itō will follow leads, collect clues and make key decisions that will change the outcome of the story. Square Enix Collective describes Tokyo Dark as “a shadowy, twisting, psychological adventure comprised of multiple branches and endings.” The game will also allow players to solve puzzles in multiple ways, further enabling varied and diverse playthroughs.
In a press release, Phil Elliott, director of community and indie development at Square Enix London, says, “Tokyo Dark goes beyond what most animated adventures attempt, with Itō’s very sanity called into question as she delves deeper into the city’s story … I think there’s a real appetite for new ideas in horror games, and Cherrymochi is certainly telling a dark tale, but in a fresh and absorbing way. We’re really proud that the team chose us as a publishing partner, and we know already that there’s a keen anticipation from gamers across the world to uncover the game’s layered mysteries.”
Tokyo Dark ’s success will depend heavily on the story it tells, and we know only the broad outlines at this stage. However, looking at the trailer, which can be viewed at the top of the page, there’s a lot to get excited about. We’re imagining old-school LucasArts point-and-click gameplay (like Monkey Island and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis) mingled with something akin to a Persona 5 setting and mood. Yes, please.
What wil Itō discover lurking in the shadows of Tokyo’s seedy dive bars and grimy subterranean tunnels? and how does it push her to the brink of insanity? Can she manage to solve the case and uncover what happened to her partner or will she be sucked in too deep?
“Itō’s story is an intentionally conflicting one,” says Maho Williams, producer at Cherrymochi, in the press release. “In Tokyo Dark, we want the player to be constantly questioning whether they’re one step away from solving the puzzle, or one step away from madness. Are they slowly unearthing the city’s dark living shadows, hidden from view, or are they imagining it all?”
Tokyo Dark arrives on Steam Sept. 7. Square Enix Collective’s announcement did not specify pricing information, or any potential plans for Mac or console releases. Stay tuned to Player.One for further updates, and be sure to let us know what you think of Tokyo Dark in the comments below.
