It is a game of schemes, shady deals, and the fine art of bending others to your will.
It’s a sly blend of strategy and puzzle-craft, where your task is to tame the whims of peculiar Councilors. Each one has a distinct personality and absurd voting quirks, and it’s up to you to position them so that even the most stubborn contrarian ends up casting their vote your way. Plot, twist the ballots, build surprising synergies, and show everyone who truly rules the chamber!
The king is dead... probably
After the sudden and still unexplained death of King Poseidon, the throne of Mackerealm stands empty, and the city sinks into chaos. As the royal Regent, it falls upon you to keep order until a new sovereign is found, or until the local clergy decide to reduce the Council to ashes. These are restless times: fishermen clash with artists, priests quarrel with soldiers, and the aristocracy revels without restraint. Everyone aspires to become a Councilor, and you must decide who takes a seat at the table, and how to twist their eccentricities to your advantage.
Outwit luck with a wink and a scheme
Debates are short yet dynamic, and there are no penalties for losing, which means you can replay them as much as you like! Each victory rewards you with 1 to 3 crowns, while in the Regent’s Trials you’ll also collect gems for completing special tasks. Strive to win every debate with as many votes in your favor as possible and keep breaking your own records!
Vox Manipuli in a nutshell:
3 game modes ("The King is Dead" campaign, "Trials of the Regent", and "Council Puzzles")
50+ different debates, with unique goals and challenges
100+ Councilors, belonging to different factions, each voting in their own unique way
Huge replayability and many paths to success in deliberations
Easter eggs and pop culture references
Fish, lots of them
Afromancer Studio consists of 2 people (Afromancer - programmer, Beti4K - graphic designer) and this is their first game. The team leader is also known as Staszek iGRAszkowski - since 2014 he has been running a YouTube channel dedicated to independent games. He creates games in his free time using the Godot engine.
Vox Manipuli is inspired by the game jam submission "Voir Dire" by Daniel Mullins.