The creative talents of Nico Saraintaris and Fernando Martínez Ruppel, novelist and artist respectively, come together in this first volume of the Pixel Pulps anthology. This collection of three video games, inspired by 1950s pulp fiction and 1980s computer graphics, pays tribute to the golden age of adventure games. Something that becomes evident shortly after starting these adventures is their exquisite narrative writing and striking illustration. In Mothmen 1966, Varney Lake, and Bahnsen Knights, we dive into short novels of roughly two hours each, filled with mystery, camaraderie, and horror.
Mothmen 1966
The paths of a gas station owner, a young couple, and a paranormal investigator cross during an event that occurs every 33 years: the Leonid meteor shower. This astral phenomenon triggers a series of paranormal events that quickly entangle these characters and some of their loved ones. Escape from the nocturnal creatures and stay alert, the Men in Black are watching.
Varney Lake
It’s 1954, summer is beginning, and a group of three friends already have their perfect vacation planned. Amid many activities, games, and fun adventures around Varney Lake, while running from bullies, they stumble upon a dying vampire whom they decide to help. One member of the group disappears, and years later the others uncover startling news. Join Jimmy, Christine, and Doug in their exciting summer and discover what’s happening in Varney Lake.
Bahnsen Knights
Boulder, a secret agent, infiltrates a religious cult known as the Bahnsen Knights, which operates in the Tornado Alley region of the United States in the late 20th century. He must maintain his cover while dealing with cultists, biblical tornadoes, and Toni, a charismatic car salesman turned preacher and current leader of the cult. His mission is to find clues about the mysterious disappearance of a fellow agent and close friend. Avoid blowing your cover and find your friend.
A connected paranormal universe
The stories in the first volume of the Pixel Pulps anthology not only showcase exquisite narrative craft that captivates with mystery, they also take place within the same universe, filled with paranormal cases that open the door to more interconnected stories in the future. Across the different narratives, we can spot characters who appear across multiple stories in different points in time and space. Without a doubt, there is one particular character who is vital to all the stories, but we won’t reveal who it is so you can discover it yourself.
Puzzles or choices
It’s clear that for a text-based adventure to be more than just a narrated tale, it must include interaction. The way to involve the player in a story is by allowing them to make decisions—and this first volume is full of them. Even within the included minigames, the gameplay revolves around choosing the next action to take. Although these minigames might seem like replicas of traditional games, such as solitaire, they feature a special twist that makes them entirely unique.
Special physical edition
We remind you that the special physical edition of the collection for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch, brought by Meridiem Games, is now available. It includes, in addition to the three games (Mothmen 1966, Varney Lake, and Bahnsen Knights):
- Special packaging.
- An exclusive holographic card for each platform.
- A download code for alternative digital covers.
