Neil Gaiman seeking adventure in Wayward Manor by year end

Written by Jack Allin — July 26, 2013 at 11:53

Neil Gaiman is renowned worldwide for his books and graphic novels, but at long last the acclaimed author is applying his craft to a videogame -- and an adventure, no less! -- in the upcoming Wayward Manor.

The titular manor is a "1920s Victorian Gothic pastoral estate" in New England that is home to a ghost (the playable character) whose "hope of a peaceful after-life is interrupted by a remarkable cast of intruders." What's worse, this "dysfunctional family of misfits and eccentrics have stifled your power and brought their own abysmal possessions into your humble abode." You'll need to think creatively in order to "uncover their deepest anxieties and drive them mad with fear using your wits and their hideous belongings."

Developed by The Odd Gentlemen, creators of the oddly charming puzzle-platformer The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, with significant input from Gaiman, Wayward Manor promises that "each level is a playground for scares where players absorb fear to take back control of the room." But as the ghost "learns more about the living characters, he also learns more about his own death and after-life, and the danger they are all facing."

While production of this "puzzle/adventure game hybrid" isn't dependent on crowdfunding, the intention is for Wayward Manor to be an ongoing franchise, so to help hasten future installments, the game is now available for pre-order, along with several other Kickstarter-like higher-level rewards, directly from the official website. The PC/Mac versions are available for only $10. The game is also being made for tablets, but there is currently no way to pre-order that version.

Although there is no firm release date for Wayward Manor, we can expect the game to be launched sometime before the end of the year.