Pinhead Games unearths first glimpse of Earl the Tomb Robber

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Action-adventure by ex-Telltale designer and creator of Nick Bounty coming to PC in 2026

Writer/designer Mark Darin has carved out an impressive career in adventure games, both as an indie developer with Pinhead Games and as part of the Telltale Games heyday, with credits ranging from the Nick Bounty series to Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space and The Walking Dead. For his next solo project, however, he'll be taking a walk on the somewhat wilder side with the action-adventure Earl the Tomb Robber.

Not to be confused with Lara Croft, tomb raider, Earl the tomb robber is a "broken man" with a prosthetic leg who "isolates from the world by researching ancient cultures and taking on unsavory 'excavation' jobs." Unfortunately, while attempting to steal an artifact on one such assignment, he unwittingly becomes bound to the"ghost of a long-deceased king." In order to break the curse tying their fates together, Earl must now "break into tombs and dig up the graves around the sacred Island of the Dead to recover the scattered mummified body parts" of his late counterpart. In exploring the island, accompanied by his spectral companion, Earl will encounter a variety of natives and wild creatures, some of which must be evaded or fought in combat. In doing so, the protagonist will be forced to "face his own insecurities" even as players are challenged to do the same. 

Presented in third-person, free-roaming 3D with the camera trailing closely behind the one-legged protagonist, Earl the Tomb Robber promises a story-driven adventure with an emphasis on environmental puzzle solving, as any fan of Pinhead's previous games would expect. Here, however, as you raid– err, rob tombs in search of "untold riches" (and royal body parts), the experience is rounded out with some "cozy" combat as well, though violence isn't always the best means of solving problems. In fact, inspired by Darin's personal journey through life's hardships, the game isn't meant to be just an outward exploration of "exotic locations," but also an inner plunge into "the depths of human psychology," tasking you, as the player, with "exploring your own personality and discovering how to identify your true authentic self." 

There is no target release date for Earl the Tomb Robber just yet, but the game is due to arrive sometime in 2026 on Steam and itch.io.  

• Advertisement
• Help support AGH by advertising with us