Kibu climbing steadily toward 2025 release

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Eastern-inspired action-adventure from the creator of Omno due to arrive later this year on Steam

In 2021, indie German developer Jonas Manke and Studio Inkyfox charmed players with a beautiful, delightfully serene 3D action-adventure called Omno. Manke's next game isn't a direct sequel, but the upcoming Kibu certainly looks to be a spiritual successor in much the same vein, just with a bit more violence and a decidedly Eastern twist. 

As with its predecessor, Kibu features little in the way of overt plot to describe. Players control a "solitary monk," a red panda who lives deep within a scenic, remote wilderness. Equipped only with a magical staff, players will "climb, glide and fight [their] way through a series of stunning worlds," collecting treasures, overcoming obstacles to create new passages and "seeking out ancient spirits" along the way. As you progress, you'll be able to "harness the power of the gods to resurrect a temple ruin into a lush natural sanctuary." 

Kibu shares much in common with Omno, from its gorgeously stylized 3D landscapes, to its variety of environmental puzzles and platforming challenges requiring the use of the protagonist's multi-functional staff. Gone are the dinosaur-like inhabitants this time, however, in favour of more mystical creatures befitting the game's obvious Eastern influence in both the art and music. There's more danger here, too, as along with using your staff to surf over flat surfaces, whether land or water, and launch projectiles, you'll also need it to "master a tactile, flowing combat system to overcome foes." For the most part, however, the game still looks to be more Zen (or Chan) than kung fu, an "atmospheric adventure game about seeking wisdom in the heart of nature" as you explore and "uncover the enigmatic teachings of the world." You'll want to stop and not only smell the flowers, but do some fishing and collect "bonsai and other treasures" in your travels as well. 

There is no firm target release date for Kibu just yet, but the game is on track to be launched on Steam sometime later this year for Windows PC, giving you plenty of time to check out Omno in the meantime if you haven't already.