The Salt Keep

The Salt Keep is a text-based adventure game that combines elements of interactive fiction, Choose Your Own Adventure, and RPG mechanics. It will appeal to fans of classic gamebooks and fantasy literature. The game follows the story of Doyle, a struggling merchant who finds himself caught up in a dangerous mystery while on a journey to meet a friend who promised to help him financially. The game is set in a high fantasy world with low fantasy stakes, where power is held by both traditional feudal lords and modern merchant conglomerates.

The world of The Salt Keep is a reflection of traditional fantasy settings, but also aims to subvert some of the genre's most frustrating tropes. It is not a world of prophesied heroes or grimdark anti-heroes, but rather a world of ordinary people trying to survive within oppressive political systems. Doyle, the main character, is not a hero trying to change the world, but simply trying to survive.

The gameplay of The Salt Keep is text-based, with the player navigating and making choices through button inputs. The player can guide Doyle through the village and the towering keep, collect items and equip gear to improve his abilities, and interact with NPCs to progress through the story. The game also includes percentage-based challenges, experience points, and leveling up. Despite the presence of choices and risks, there is no chance of death or dead-ends, ensuring that the story always moves forward.

If you want to try out the game before committing, there is a demo available on the browser. The demo includes the prologue and first chapter of the game, and any progress made can be transferred to the full version. To stay updated on the game's progress and future games, you can follow the developer on Twitter and Tumblr.

The Salt Keep is a unique and original take on the fantasy genre, offering a character-driven story and gameplay that allows for player choice and progression. With its familiar yet subversive world and engaging gameplay, it is sure to be a hit among fans of fantasy and interactive fiction. So why not give the demo a try and see for yourself?