You are a mind-reading goblin mage whose citizen score has fallen below the threshold of social acceptability.
Normally, you would spend the rest of your life in the Corrective Camps of the State of New Order, but you have volunteered yourself for an expedition into the Inverted Spire.
The Spire is an unearthly architectural marvel stretching many leagues below ground. It has no known origin, and has been altering the surrounding landscape into an unlivable wasteland.
Your Council has been sending groups of prisoners into the structure for decades with the stated intent of investigating and destroying it. This is the sole opportunity for wards of the state to have their crimes forgiven, scores reset, and citizenship fully reinstated.
None have ever returned. But you, and the six others who have been 'volunteered' alongside you, are determined to be the first survivors!
Read minds. Form alliances. Break them. Find true companionship. Make true enemies. Become the person you always wished you could be, or succumb to your darkest urges.
Anything is possible in the uncharted depths of the Spire.
CONTENT WARNING
The Inverted Spire is a dark fantasy choices-matter visual novel with themes of redemption and self-discovery in a brutal dystopian world. This translates to a mature narrative aimed at an 18+ audience that may not be suitable for all players.
It touches on themes of authoritarian repression, cyclical violence, relational abuse, substance abuse, loss and mental illness through a trauma-informed lens. The game also features body horror, coarse language and mature themes.
If you believe you may be sensitive to some of the content involved, please proceed with care.
KEY FEATURES
Living, breathing environments~
Including animated CGs (presently 30+), dynamic character expressions (presently 50+), and originally composed music.
Meaningful choices ~
The Inverted Spire departs from a more traditional branching narrative structure to offer a Rubik's cube of moving parts.
It is is built from the ground up to maximize replayability. A single playthrough is likely to yield roughly 10% of available content, and there are multiple solutions to almost every in-game encounter.
Every choice you make impacts character relationships and how the protagonist is perceived by others. Some decisions have immediate consequences, while others gradually reveal their impact over time. How the characters develop and what ending you achieve in future releases will be determined by the sum of your actions.
Multi-dimensional character relationships in a genderless world~
Your companions have perpetually-shifting trust bars that reflect their confidence in the protagonist at any given time. Their attitude is also impacted by personally significant events, and they respond to changes in the protagonist's behavior over the course of your journey.
You can cultivate romantic relationships, friendships and rivalries with any of your six companions over the course of future releases.
Mind-reading~
Our protagonist's sinister discipline places them in a unique position to influence the dynamics of their group. How you use this power is up to your discretion.
A World Rich with Lore ~
You have access to an in-game codex that is persistently updated with character secrets (as you discover them), and worldbuilding lore presented through immersive in-world transcriptions of recordings, letters and documents. These entries are often significant to solving dialogue puzzles and seeing through to the underlying truth behind character interactions!
How much you uncover about the mystery behind your companions, the state of New Order, and the Inverted Spire itself depends on the choice that you make.
CHARACTERS
ONE (V----- I----)
Age: 24
Our protagonist bears the dubious honour of being the Expedition’s youngest participant. ONE is determined to seize this chance to finally make something of themselves—but what will they become in the Spire's inscrutable depths?
TWO (B---- E---)
Age: 53
A thoughtful goblin with a warm, mentorly demeanor. TWO is always bursting with theories about the true origins of New Order, but skillfully evades probing questions about their past.
Fun Fact: Comes from a town that no longer exists on any map, and only occasionally makes its way into children's nursery rhymes.
THREE (M--- R----)
Age: 28
An unrepentant dissident who can find the humour in anything. THREE is an impulsive risk-taker who never holds back what they think—especially when it means trouble.
Fun fact: Has a glorious singing voice and a keen sense of rhythm. Just don't ask them why they're not a dancer anymore.
FOUR (R---- M------)
Age: 43
A stoic goblin with a casual aura of authority, which can in part be attributed to their imposing size. FOUR prides themselves on their down-to-earth attitude. Their diplomacy—not so much.
Fun fact: Can build anything with a blueprint, but has a special preference for suspension racks.
FIVE (Y---- M---)
Age: 31
A true New Order patriot. FIVE is an idealist of seemingly boundless optimism—matched only by their equally boundless anxiety. They're a little tough on everyone, but most of all themselves.
Fun fact: Former proud owner of a fearsome tabby named Bobble (well, FIVE thinks they're fearsome, and that's what counts).
SIX (M---- S---)
Age: 37
A goblin of poise and self-possession. SIX always speaks their mind with a sharp tongue and an acerbic smile. Is there anything that can break their composure?
Fun fact: Has a unique perspective on death, even for a goblin of their gruesome magical discipline.
SEVEN (C----- P------)
Age: 32
A goblin who appears young and fragile at first glance. Under the convincing veneer of credulousness, and wanting everyone to get along, SEVEN lets slip the occasional glimpse of—something else.
Fun fact: Prefers most other living creatures to goblins, for the possible exception of spiders.
