To request a copy of this game when it’s available, please visit: http://sbx.gg/inkblood
NICOSIA, Cyprus – April 23, 2026 – At today’s Second Wind Games Showcase, CRITICAL REFLEX (Mouthwashing, No, I’m not a human) and developer Hey Bird! revealed a new trailer for the occult detective adventure game Inkblood! In addition, Inkblood has a new Steam playtest that will get you started as an Inquisitor into the mysteries of this dark and treacherous world.
Playtest Trailer: YouTube
Media Assets: Download
Inkblood’s new Steam playtest features two bizarre ritualistic murders to solve. This strange, hand-animated world, inspired by 19th-century Eastern Europe, is home to eerie mental institutions, secret societies, uncanny masked carnivals, and even mushroomfolk in human form. Your job is somehow to keep it all in check by solving the most peculiar crimes and upholding the rule of the Inquisition. At least, while your objectives align...
About Inkblood
Wicked sorcery abounds, rotting the minds of the people and the very fabric of reality itself. You must uncover what’s really going on before the comet arrives, dooming the whole land. And that’s if it isn’t already too late.
Inkblood challenges you to solve 10 unique cases, each more mind-boggling than the last, inspired by games like The Case of the Golden Idol, Strange Horticulture, and Return of the Obra Dinn. Explore the past and present, travel the small open world in search of answers, investigate both outside and inside your carriage, and seek further insight through mushroom-induced hallucinations. But be warned: both this land and the Inquisition itself harbor secrets that are better left unsolved.
Key Features
Uncover the Truth: As the Inquisitor, you are uniquely equipped to solve a cultist conspiracy. Deduction, observation, intuition, supernatural tools provided by the Inquisition – use everything we have trained you for.
Home Away from Home: Your carriage is a temporary home and base of operations. There are rumors it might even contain hidden secrets of its own… Ignore those! Return the carriage exactly as it was, or face your fate.
Explore the Land: You’re not bound to one place: the investigation will lead you to bizarre, secret locations. Poke the map on the back of the coachman to tell him where to drive, and pursue the enemies of the state across the land.
Eradicate the Occult: Your cases may seem like random occurrences at first, but they’re all connected to a grand conspiracy that even we’re not authorized to speak of. No detail is insignificant, and sometimes even the smallest may lead to the greatest of revelations.
Gaze into the Past: Your magnifying glass has a rather peculiar ability to see not only what is, but what once was. But be careful: don’t look into things that are none of your concern!
Inkblood will officially release later this year. Join the new playtest and wishlist now on Steam! To dive deeper into all things CRITICAL REFLEX, visit www.criticalreflex.com, and follow along on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!
About Hey Bird!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a fish? We honestly don’t know. We found an egg and this thing came out of it. All we know if we like making weird games and experiences.
About CRITICAL REFLEX
CRITICAL REFLEX is an indie game publisher obsessed with genre-blending, rule-breaking, brain-melting games. We help devs polish the weird, sharpen the wild, and launch their projects loud. Known for titles like Buckshot Roulette, Lunacid, Mouthwashing and No, I'm not a Human, we champion the unforgettable experiences. Genre is a prison and we ate the warden.
About CR Channel
CR Channel is the CRITICAL REFLEX publishing label focusing exclusively on indie horror. Join the Discord here: https://discord.gg/FrzN8srBfy
Media Contact
Elena Christensen
Sandbox Strategies for CRITICAL REFLEX
elena@sandboxstrat.com
www.sandboxstrat.com