Solo developer Michele Buonanno is taking his 2022 best-seller gamebook, 49 Chiavi, and turning it into his debut video game. Courtesy of publisher 2P Games, 49 Keys is already available for wishlisting on Steam, and is expected to launch later this year.
A best-seller puzzle adventure in its native Italy, 49 Chaivi earned overwhelming praise from literary critics and becoming Novel of the Year and Librogame Magnifico in 2022. Much like the book, 49 Keys is inspired by real magic books from the 16th century. You are a friar from the Dominican Order dealing with severe hallucinations that cause him to see demons shaped by his traumas. One day, he receives a letter from his deceased master naming him heir to his mysterious legacy. Your journey takes you to an unsettling island that just so happens to be filled with mysteries and macabre spirits, not to mention some Lovecraftian undertones that will no doubt attract the attention of a few gamers.
Taking cues from point-and-click adventure games, 49 Keys includes puzzle solving elements, as well as interaction with objects, and creating alchemical mixtures or summoning spirits based on the influence of the stars. Players will not only need to use their smarts, but also test their mettle and remain calm in the oppressive atmosphere of the game. One misstep can completely change the story’s outcome, as different actions in the game will lead to unexplored storylines.
