Eldritch Tales: Inheritance is a game that blends elements of psychological, supernatural, and cosmic horror with a good dose of drama, investigation, and romance. You and your high school friends are reunited after five years by a mysterious letter, and through this letter, you inherit an old Gothic manor and a substantial fortune.
There is only one condition: you must live in the manor together.
As you arrive at Blackthorn Manor, strange, unsettling events begin to unfold. Shadows move on their own, nights are unnaturally dark, and the atmosphere grows increasingly tense. The manor is full of secrets, and the more you learn, the less you seem to understand.
- Play as male, female, or nonbinary.
- Customize your appearance, personality, and sexuality.
- Romance or befriend a wealthy and carefree playboy, a no-nonsense scientist, a disciplined and protective ex-soldier, or a sweet and free-spirited artist.
- Manage your relationships, or face unforeseen consequences.
- Pay attention to your sanity and health, orâŚdonât.
- Search for clues, solve puzzles, and learn the truth behind your inheritance.
- Discover hidden rooms, secret passages, and eldritch artifacts.
- Confront moral dilemmas, and be careful as they may have far-reaching consequences.
- Face randomized events that will keep each playthrough unique.
- Experience multiple endings based on your choices and actions.
What darkness does Blackthorn Manor conceal, and how will it affect your fate? Can you uncover the truth and survive, or will the manorâs sinister influence consume you all?
TYLER REYNOLDS
- Background: Born into wealth, Tyler has always enjoyed privilege and opulence. While his party-going ways have quieted recently, he still likes to boast about his familyâs status.
- Personality: Tyler has a confident, carefree spirit that can be both alluring and unnerving. He enjoys living in the now and isnât too concerned with the future.
- Physical description: Tyler is tall and lean with an athletic build. He has dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes, and a preppy yet sophisticated style. He is fond of loafers and owns over two hundred pairs.
- Smell: Blend of citrus and sage.
CALEB MITCHELL
- Background: A former soldier, Caleb has spent the last couple of years doing different security jobs. Heâs very protective of his younger sister Julia, with whom he shares a close bond.
- Personality: Caleb is disciplined and protective, with a dry sense of humor shaped by his military background. Despite his rugged exterior, he dreams of a peaceful life.
- Physical description: Caleb is tall and muscular, and has an overall rugged appearance. He has a dark brown undercut, deep brown eyes, and a bit of stubble. His style is mostly casual.
- Smell: Cedarwood with hints of amber.
JULIA MITCHELL
- Background: Julia has a deep passion for science; she excels in engineering and physics. Her career and research define most of what her life is about.
- Personality: Julia is a no-nonsense individual who values efficiency and clarity. Sheâs methodical in her approach to problems but can get puzzled in overly emotional moments.
- Physical description: Julia is of medium height with a lean physique. She has neck-long black hair, deep brown eyes, and wears stylish glasses. Her style is Parisian chic.
- Smell: Paper and ink, with hints of lavender.
LUNA HARPER
- Background: An artist first and foremost, Lunaâs whole world revolves around her paintbrush and palette. She embraces all forms and aspects of spirituality and loves crystals.
- Personality: Luna is a free spirit, and her vibrant personality is reflected in her artwork. Her optimism is infectious, her humor innocent, and her soul seems to be untouched by cynicism.
- Physical description: Luna is petite and has an ethereal presence. She has long platinum-blonde hair with pink highlights, green eyes, and loves the bohemian style.
- Smell: Patchouli and sandalwood.
OTHER DETAILS
WORD COUNT
Demo: 79.500.
Written so far: 81.000.
Planned: between 160.000 and 200.000.
PROGRESS
Chapter 1 â 100% done. [in Demo]
Chapter 2 â 100% done. [in Demo]
Chapter 3 â 20% done. [in Demo, parts]
Chapter 4 â to be done.
Chapter 5 â 5% done.
Epilogue â to be done.
FEEDBACK
Feel free to leave comments with questions, ideas, and any possible errors (including grammar and punctuation) or bugs you might have encountered.
And if you just want to say something about the game or the characters, thatâs fine too! It doesnât always have to be specific feedback.
CHANGELOG
June 7, 2024
- Demo release (ca. 31.200 words, excluding code).
June 12, 2024
- This update is more like a patch:
- In the patch: Added a new answer in which you can side with Julia when Tyler asks if you think the manor is haunted. For context, this choice is mostly for the stats: the new choice will give you +5 to all four abilities, while the other four give +20 to one ability.
- In the patch: Added 2 new hair combinations.
- In the patch: Corrected some âcuriosityâ issues with Tyler.
- In the patch: Corrected issues pointed out by JBento.
July 6, 2024
- This update includes the first portion of Chapter 2, which is about 11.600 words, excluding code. Itâs more like a setup for what will happen in the chapter.
- Highlights: first proper flirtatious moments for all the characters. Typically, youâll have full freedom in choosing who you want to spend time with, but this time, the person who visits you will be the same person you chose to have a room next to. (It just makes sense in the context of the scene.)
- Highlights: A cozy food moment.
- Highlights: Introduction to background-related scenes that will come in the next patch.
- I also fixed more typos.
September 25, 2024
- This update includes the second portion of Chapter 2 (out of three), which is about 18.500 words, excluding code. It doesnât make a single playthrough much longer, but it introduces the first scene for each background. Each background can lead you to a background-specific ending (there will also be endings available to all players), and these scenes kick off the storylines.
- I also edited Chapter 1. There have been no changes to the story or choices, but I was not too fond of the way I wrote certain things. I hope the current version is okay!
- The next patch should close Chapter 2.
October 31, 2024
- This update includes the final portion of Chapter 2, which is about 13.000 words.
- There will be a follow-up update for this chapter once Iâm done revising it and checking for any remaining typosâno worries there.
- This update also removed one of the statsâat least for nowâas I realized I havenât used it even once. These technical aspects are all still fluid so weâll see where we end up.
- The next update will bring you the first part of Chapter 3.
November 14, 2024
- This update is more of a patch. It corrects mostâif not allâtypos and major grammatical issues in Chapter 2. Itâs nothing huge, but it was definitely needed.
November 22, 2024
- This update includes the first portion of Chapter 3, which is about 6.500 words.
- This portion mostly moves the main story forward, while also including more personality and sanity checks than before.
- The next portion will be longer, and it will feature much more romance, including proper romantic and/or sexual encounters with the love interests.
DEMO | TUMBLR | PINTEREST | PATREON
If you enjoy Eldritch Tales: Inheritance, you can consider supporting my work by buying one of my already published Hosted GamesâTemple of Endless Night or Hidden Sanctum.
TEMPLE OF ENDLESS NIGHT [Dark | Fantasy | Horror | Ancient Egypt]
THE HIDDEN SANCTUM [Modern Fantasy]
And if youâre looking for free games, you can try these:
EVERBLOOM [Cozy Fantasy | Slice-of-life]
THE ALCHEMIST [Short | High Fantasy]