19 Feb 2025 4:59 PM +00:00 UTC

Ex-Telltale Dev Announces Action-Adventure Game Focused on Self-Discovery

Former Telltale Games Lead Designer, Writer, and Creative Director Mark Darin has revealed his latest project under his new studio, Pinhead Games. Titled Earl the Tomb Robber, it is an action-adventure experience set to launch on PC sometime next year.

The game follows a tomb robber named Earl, who finds himself bound by an ancient curse to the ghost of a long-dead king. To break free, Earl must explore tombs and unearth graves in search of the king's scattered, mummified remains — a premise that is both morbid and intriguing. Pretty cliche, but when it works, it works.

The game is set on the aptly named "Island of the Dead," where Earl engages in exploration, puzzle-solving, and traditional third-person hack-and-slash combat.

Earl the Tomb Robber — Earl Tomb Robbing

While no gameplay footage has been released yet, the official Steam page is live, offering descriptions that shed light on the game's mechanics and themes.

According to Mark Darin, the game "merges God of War and Uncharted with an indie Pixar aesthetic — but on a much smaller budget." This influence is evident in the game's 3D visuals, which bring to mind titles like Hello Neighbor, minus the eerie undertones.

Throughout his journey on the island, Earl will encounter native inhabitants and explore exotic locations in a style reminiscent of Nathan Drake or Lara Croft. He will also battle a host of other cursed creatures, further highlighting the game's classic adventure inspirations.

Earl Third-Person Combat — Third-Person Combat

This marks Darin’s first project since his 15-year tenure at Telltale Games. After facing a serious health issue that left him disabled, he experienced a downward spiral but ultimately found solace in game development. Through Earl the Tomb Robber, he hopes to process his struggles and offer players a journey that resonates with those facing similar challenges.

Unlike his previous Telltale games, Earl the Tomb Robber is not an episodic adventure game. Instead, it's a complete game upon purchase with no need to wait for the next episode. The game is still in development, and with its planned 2026 release, more details and gameplay snippets are expected in the near future.

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Feliciano Mondigo III

Monster Hunter Extraordinaire

A connoisseur of fine video games, Thirdy began his gaming journey after discovering Kingdom Hearts. Now, he is on a constant quest to play the best of the best, from indie titles like The Outer Wilds to AAA giants like Monster Hunter. When he’s not gaming, he spends most of his time reading, primarily sci-fi.

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