We at RPG Codex sometimes stretch our coverage by highlighting interesting things happening outside the realm of classic computer role-playing games. Today I'd like to highlight an adventure game. Not uncommonly featuring plenty of dialogue, puzzles, choices and consequences – these games can have many qualities in common with the very best cRPGs. The staff had discussions, way back in time, about starting an Adventure Games Codex, but as we're already stretching our resources thin with the extremely active and prosperous Tacticular Cancer, we decided not to.

Featuring great visuals, some damn brutal death animations, and music by Mark Morgan (Fallout, Planescape: Torment), Stasis was crowdfunded in 2013 and released in 2015. The brother duo behind it, The Brotherhood (with one half being the fantastic digital artist and Codexer Pyke), are now back at it with another Kickstarter campaign for their next game: Beautiful Desolation.


Again featuring fantastic isometric visuals, Beautiful Desolation takes place in a post-apocalyptic world with vibrant colors and sci-fi gizmos and creatures. Expect a bigger emphasis on exploration and weirdness this time around, and perhaps fewer horror elements and jump scares.

Here's an informative bullet-point list from the Kickstarter page:

• Point-and-click adventure game

• 80s retro technology look and feel

• A story set in a post-apocalyptic future

• 2D isometric, detailed rendered environments

• African landscapes captured with photogrammetry

• Extensive use of miniatures and scale model elements

• Unique tribal punk aesthetic

• Bizarre creatures and animals, and vibrant characters

• From the creators of STASIS and CAYNE

They started the Kickstarter earlier this month but there's still 18 days to go. Check it out, and don't forget to try their recently released adventure game Cayne – for free!

Thanks agris!