FriendShapes

FriendShapes is an abstract horror RPG set in Leavalley, a twisted place you think may have been your hometown. You feel you were drawn there for a reason, though you do not know what it is. Explore its mixture of 2D and 3D environments, meet its inhabitants and try to understand the Encounters—and what they might reveal about you.

Leavalley and its Digressions

Leavalley’s reality is slackening and folding in on itself, creating locations that continue longer than they should. These Digressions are labyrinths whose order, features, Encounters and danger levels can vary, with rogue-lite randomized elements. More than 30 text events can occur in each Digression, influenced by Luck, Wellbeing, Sanity and Focus. Luck decreases each time something fortunate happens during that run.

Keep your wits and Sanity as you explore: stranger sights may appear if you lose them. Try to maintain your Focus and uncover fragments of past memories that may help you hold on to who you are in the present—or who you think you should be. Files provide background on events in the world and studies of Shapes you may or may not have encountered.

Encounters with Shapes

You encounter almost 40 Shapes, potentially hostile beings that can drain your Physical, Mental and/or Focus health, as well as cause damage in other ways, sometimes in response to your choices. Each has its own behaviours, dispositions and music, along with different ways to appease it or avoid conflict. The Encounters focus on understanding abstract entities rather than violence, and combine puzzles, intuition, instinct and trial and error. There are no jumpscares; the horror comes through atmosphere and a sense of looming dread.

During an Encounter, you can Observe, Gesture, Speak, Touch or Withdraw, use Inventory items, and sometimes use rare Context actions that become available as the situation develops. Work out how to respond to each Shape, from performing actions in a certain order to choosing an action based on its latest exchange. A wrong move can leave you in worse condition, even if you have learned something. Some of the Shapes include Blood Shadow, Huh?Man, The Collective, Excogidiomycota, Abandoned Mascot and Conceptual Parasite.

Leavalley’s inhabitants

The valley’s denizens each have their own motives for staying in Leavalley and its Digressions. Trade items with TradeMark, get advice from Highfive, and meet Mr. Dac, who may stop you from getting in over your head. Mícheart Jinsil answers questions about the people and things you have encountered, and may turn up unexpectedly. You can save your progress by speaking with a Scape, a creature representing a location and feeling: Nightscape, Cityscape, Seascape or Snowscape.

A long, strange journey

The game runs for 7–10 hours and features an original soundtrack with over 70 songs.