Bendy and the Ink Machine
Bendy and the Ink Machine is an episodic first-person survival horror video game developed and published by Joey Drew Studios Inc. under the name of the game's in-universe animation studio Joey Drew Studios Inc. It was initially released to Game Jolt on February 10, 2017, as the first of five chapters, with a full worldwide release on October 27, 2018. The game was also released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on November 20, 2018, being published by Rooster Teeth Games, and for IOS and Android on December 21, 2018.
Bendy and the Ink Machine | |
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Developer(s) | Joey Drew Studios Inc. |
Publisher(s) | Joey Drew Studios Inc Rooster Teeth Games (previously consoles) (Publisher Distribution) |
Designer(s) | theMeatly Mike Desjardins Matt Goles Dan Tozer |
Artist(s) | Pascal Cleroux |
Writer(s) | theMeatly Bookpast |
Engine | Unity |
Platform(s) | |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Survival horror |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Inspired by the BioShock game series, the game is set in the fictional Joey Drew Studios. The player controls Henry Stein, a retired animator who receives a letter inviting him back to his old workplace. Stein discovers a series of strange paranormal activities caused by the titular Ink Machine. In the game, players navigate through a first person perspective and need to complete certain tasks to proceed, such as combat, collecting objects or solving puzzles. Players can also find audio logs recorded by the studio's employees in order to understand the game's history.
Bendy and the Ink Machine was well-received upon its initial release. Praise centered on its vintage aesthetic and story, although its puzzles and combat mechanics were less popular. In the months following its release, the game quickly gained a large following from exposure on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, and eventually was approved through Steam Greenlight in mid-2017. Merchandise, as well as a mobile spin-off, was later introduced to further promote the game. Mike Mood, the game's programmer and co-creator, described the game as an "accidental success". Bendy and the Dark Revival, the next game in the series, was released on November 15, 2022. A film adaptation by Radar Pictures is currently in production.