What Inkbound is
Inkbound is a turn-based tactical roguelike from the creators of Monster Train, set in a world where the dangerous magic of the written word comes to life. The Atheneum holds every story ever written, and each book becomes a portal to another world with its own threats. Those stories are unraveling because of an unseen threat, so you go on a quest to save them, unlock new classes, and master the challenge. Runs are built around draftable abilities, ability upgrades, and hundreds of items to find, with procedural generation and choices that matter along the way.
How a group plays it together
You can play solo or with friends. The Atheneum works as a social hub where players meet up with friends and strangers to form groups of up to four, then take on challenges as a team. Combat runs on a turn-based system where players move freely and act simultaneously, so everyone is deciding and moving in the same turn rather than waiting in a queue. Speed is in your hands: go fast when the decisions are easy, slow down when the threat amps up and you need to think it through. Part of the co-op is planning around each other — strategize together to work out the most synergistic builds across the party.
Before you start
Expect a run-based structure where your build comes together as you play: you pick from draftable abilities, upgrade them, and pick up items you find along the way, adapting your strategy as the run develops. There is a varied set of character classes to explore, and unlocking more of them is part of the progression. Since the worlds come from books, each one brings different enemies and situations, so a plan that worked last run may need adjusting. PvE throughout — the opposition is the threats inside the stories, not other players.