Inkbound, the new roguelike from the Monster Train team, hits Steam next year

The new roguelike will be tactical and co-op

Shiny Shoe, the team behind the deckbuilding hell-train roguelike Monster Train, has a new game in the works. Today the team revealed Inkbound, a co-op tactical roguelike that’s coming to Steam Early Access in 2023.

While 2020’s Monster Train blended deckbuilding with tower defense, Inkbound is going for a different vibe. According to the developer, it’s blending tactics games, ARPGs, and roguelikes into one with hybrid real-time/turn-based battles.

The option is there to go fast or slow down, charging in for melee hits or staying just out of reach and pelting away with ranged attacks. Most notably, co-op play is a big component.

Binders, the heroes of this realm who maintain stories and care for them, can work together in fights. One might lean into healing while another does the damage, or focus on debuffing the enemy. Shiny Shoe says co-op is “rewarded, but not required.” Playing solo is totally possible, though playing co-op is the best way towards Inkbound‘s best loot.

A neverending story

Inkbound will launch into Steam Early Access in 2023, though you can also sign up for beta access through the official website here. The Shiny Shoe team seems keen on using this evolving this game over time, making use of the in-development structure of Early Access. CEO Mark Cooke says the team’s goal is to give players new surprises each week, whether it’s new enemies, loot, or biomes to explore.

It’s an interesting pitch, mixing co-op in with roguelike and tactical combat. But after the mish-mash of ideas that is Monster Train turned out so well, I’m inclined to keep an eye on what Shiny Shoe is doing. There are many competitors in the roguelike world, but Shiny Shoe has already shown once that they can make something unique and interesting.

We’ll see what Inkbound brings to the field in 2023 when it launches into Steam Early Access on PC.