Murals is an isometric action-adventure game that reimagines classic fairy tales in distorted, hand-painted settings. Players control a nameless hero who awakens in a twisted castle with no memory of their past. A sentient sketch named Loaf serves as the constant companion, explaining the arrival of hostile creatures called The Distorted and the lack of an obvious way out. The story unfolds across multiple fairy tale lands where familiar characters face unusual threats, such as an insomniac Sleeping Beauty or a Rapunzel whose hair has turned aggressive.
Gameplay
Combat forms the core loop, blending melee and ranged attacks in fast-paced encounters. Weapons range from talking swords and dwarven gloves to mystical dragon blasters and specialized tools like the Wolfhammer or Medusa's shield. Players combine these options to handle groups of The Distorted across environments that include crooked castles, deceitful forests, and living mazes. Exploration drives progression as the hero moves between separate fairy tale worlds, assisting altered versions of characters like Hansel and Gretel or the Little Mermaid while uncovering the larger threat posed by The Creator.
Eeries act as the main customization layer. These trinkets attach to weapons or the player and alter combat in specific ways, such as adding poison effects or lightning properties. Examples include Strength In Misery, which boosts damage against status-afflicted foes, and Thorny, which reflects damage back at attackers. Magic Dave, a scarecrow-like figure, supplies Eeries through a vending machine system that allows selection and rerolls. Once earned, Eeries remain available for the entire playthrough rather than resetting between attempts.
Voice acting brings the cast of distorted legends and supporting characters to life, while hand-painted visuals emphasize the stylized, off-kilter tone of each world. The experience stays grounded in single-player progression without branching into separate systems or persistent online elements.
Game Modes
Murals centers on a single-player campaign that spans multiple self-contained fairy tale lands. Players advance by clearing combat encounters, exploring for new weapons and Eeries, and confronting key figures from the twisted lore. The structure encourages repeated experimentation with weapon combinations and Eerie loadouts within the same continuous run, as choices carry forward rather than resetting. No separate competitive, cooperative, or roguelike modes appear in the announced design.
Progression focuses on reaching a final confrontation with The Creator, an artist figure who observes the hero's actions throughout. Side interactions with voiced characters provide context and flavor but do not alter the main path into distinct modes. The campaign supports controller input and emphasizes freedom in combat setups over rigid mission structures.
Story and Setting
The narrative begins with amnesia and expands through encounters with characters pulled from familiar tales but altered in unsettling ways. Rumpelstiltskin pursues theatrical ambitions, while other figures contend with threats that invert their traditional roles. The Distorted serve as recurring enemies drawn from these corrupted stories, leading toward a direct clash with The Creator. Fully voiced dialogue and an original orchestral score support the atmospheric delivery across the hand-painted environments.
Is It Worth Playing?
Murals targets players who enjoy isometric action-adventure games built around weapon experimentation and permanent ability upgrades. The customizable combat loop, supported by Eeries that modify fights in tangible ways, offers meaningful choices without requiring restarts. Those drawn to twisted reinterpretations of fairy tales and hand-painted art styles will find the setting distinctive. With a planned 2027 release and no reviews available yet, the game's appeal rests on the announced focus on responsive combat and exploration across varied worlds. Fans of Dlala Studios' prior work on action titles may find the shift to original IP and weapon-based gameplay a natural extension of the studio's strengths in character-driven experiences.
