Inked: A Tale of Love
Inked is a hand-drawn puzzle adventure set in a mythological world of beautiful ballpoint pen landscapes, inspired by Japanese folk tales. As the Nameless Hero, explore 10 different minimalistic worlds searching for your lost love Aiko, using your magical paintbrush to solve puzzles in a heartwarming story that will move and shake you to the core.- “Draw” your own journey in a stunning ballpoint pen-drawn worldExplore 10 different hand-drawn paper worlds full of beautiful landscapes, fauna and flora, and awe-inspiring architecture that will marvel you at every step.- Solve clever puzzles to save your beloved oneThe path in front of you is full of threats and perils that you’ll have to overcome in order to get your loved one back. Use your magical paintbrush to draw geometrical shapes to clear obstacles and solve puzzles. Each puzzle will connect you more with the protagonist and draw you deeper into the world created by The Artist.- A multi-layered narrative that breaks the fourth wallFollowing the Nameless Hero’s steps, there is a mysterious voice – the Artist, the person who drew the world where the adventure takes place. Your story and his are connected in many ways – and your journey will touch your hearts and change you forever.- A heart-warming story to comfort your soulInked is a wholesome narrative-driven puzzle game, a heart-warming story about loss and hope in a time where we all need some comfort.
Game Discussion
Steam User 0
Rating: 3.5/5
"Inked: A Tale of Love" is a beautifully crafted, relaxing game with an art style that feels like you're playing inside a living sketchbook. The music enhances this tranquil atmosphere, making it perfect for unwinding. The game is slow-paced, which suits its meditative tone, but it's also short, so it won’t take up too much time.
The puzzles in the game range from simple to brain-teasing, and while most are manageable, certain puzzles in chapters 5 and 6 can become frustrating if you're playing with a controller or on the Steam Deck. The timing issues with the gamepad controls make these specific sections feel almost impossible, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
As a completionist, the challenge of finding all the hidden canvases was an enjoyable touch that added depth to the game. However, the "Second Opinion" achievement, which requires replaying the entire game, felt more tedious than rewarding. Once you've solved the puzzles, the magic of discovery is gone, making a second playthrough feel "drawn out" (pun intended). A different ending on the second playthrough would have been a welcome incentive, but without that, replay value is limited.
Overall, "Inked" is a cute game with a tragic love story and a bittersweet ending. It’s great for puzzle lovers looking for a quick, engaging experience. While some aspects may frustrate, especially for those using a controller, the art and narrative are worth exploring.
Steam User 0
A decent game overall with a beautiful and unique art style and a decent story. The game is quite short, but should be expected for the low price tag. The puzzles aren't very difficult, so if you're looking for a difficult game this is not for you. Would recommend picking it up on sale.
Pros
Beautiful and unique art style
Decent soundtracks (except credit song, sorry)
Cons
Puzzles not very difficult
A few bugs which were quite annoying (ex: sound playing on repeat whenever I tried to change the volume which required a restart)
Steam User 0
A beautiful, simple game, with a decent story. The puzzles aren't particularly complex, and it's a very short game, but it's also very charming.
Steam User 0
7/10
Simple and short puzzle game with heavy-handed storytelling and sketched art style. Game was just the right length as any longer it would've outstayed it's welcome.
Steam User 0
I finished the game. It took about four hours. Some of the puzzles were challenging for me. The story is quite sweet and I really enjoyed the voice over. Nice little game.
Steam User 0
Game is good and short. It took me about 3 hours. The main selling point is the unique hand drawn ballpoint pen style. Puzzle were on the easy side. One frustration I had was that the controls when moving objects was clunky- the objects snap to the grid. Also some puzzles it doesn't allow other solutions because it arbitrarily decides to not allow a piece placement in a certain location.
Steam User 0
A love story for good visuals and a lot of crying sessions