49 Keys unlocked on PC and Switch

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Sixteenth-century esoteric horror adventure based on Italian gamebook available now on Steam and the Nintendo eShop

A lot of gamers don't consider misleadingly titled "gamebooks" to actually be GAMES. So Italian author Michele Buonanno has decided to meet those people where they're at by adapting his successful 2022 gamebook, released in Italy as 49 Chiavi, into a more full-fledged point-and-click narrative experience, now available in English as 49 Keys. 

It's 1520 when you, a devout friar from the Dominican order, one day receive a surprising letter from your former mentor, a fellow friar who was excommunicated for his interest in the occult, written just prior to his death. In it he bequeaths to you his "mysterious legacy" hidden somewhere in his now-abandoned palace in northern Italy. Upon your arrival, you embark on a search through your mentor's affairs that will "expose you to the forbidden arcane ... in which you shall concoct mixtures both wondrous and strange, and summon forth beings of otherworldly power." But dabbling in the dark arts comes with a price, and as you progress, "terrors buried deep within shall soon awaken within you, Dantean horrors that bleed into reality." The challenges that await will test both your intellect and your mettle in a quest "brimming with horror and magic," and crucial decisions you make will determine the direction of the story and which of the four different endings you'll receive.

Described as a "narrative horror-esoteric puzzle adventure," 49 Keys explores a dark tale inspired by "real magic books written in the 16th century." With its hand-drawn illustrations designed to resemble authentic period manuscripts, the game still closely resembles its source book visually, but player interaction is inspired by classic point-and-clicks and involves "intricate puzzle solving, interaction with objects, and creating alchemical mixtures or summoning spirits based on the influence of the planets." Left-hand pages will present the unfolding story in text as well as any interactive puzzle elements, while on the right you'll find your inventory and explorable maps for getting around. You'll need to "search through a meticulously crafted world [and] read every word with care" for potentially vital clues, though if help is needed, there will be will "an array of detailed in-game tips" available. As you delve deeper into a complex, philosophical story involving "high intellectual magic" and a now-outdated astrological perception of an Earth-centered universe, you'll be forced to deal with your own personal demons as well, grappling with the conflicts between faith and occult knowledge, and loyalty to your former master or the Church. The choices are yours, as are the consequences that come with them.

If some pre-Lovecraft "Lovecraftian" horror sounds like your idea of a good time, you're in luck, as 49 Keys has magically appeared on Steam for Windows PC, and the Nintendo eShop for Switch. 

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