'Bendy and the Ink Machine': The Hot Indie Game That Is Scaring Gamers Everywhere

Idyllic old-school cartoons and hair-raising terror combine to bring you this creepy indie blockbuster.

By Skylar BanachPublished 7 years ago • 3 min read

Everyone has fond memories of cartoons as children. Whether they were classics — à la Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny — or more modern, cartoons are an integral part of childhood entertainment. However, cartoons can have a scary side.

Welcome to Bendy and the Ink Machine, a horror puzzle game that takes the beautiful style of old-school cartoons and makes it into something that will frighten you more than anything ever has. Henry used to work in an animation studio that specialized in a lovable, devilish character called Bendy. This "Lil Devil Darlin'," with his Mickey Mouse style construction and slightly creepy smile, is a centerpiece in the now-abandoned studio. Upon the request of an old friend, Henry returns to the studio and immediately becomes entangled in the horrors within.

Chapter 1: "Moving Pictures"

The setting of the game is completely devoid of color, giving the entire game the feeling of being in a sepia photograph.

The first chapter, "Moving Pictures," was released in April of 2017 and immediately received rave reviews. Prominent YouTubers, such as Markiplier (Mark Fishbach) and JackSepticEye (Sean McLoughlin), have played the game and praised it for its beautiful graphics and interesting concept. The first portion of the game is free, but the other chapters are paid DLC.

Chapter 1 lays out the narrative basis for the game. Players arrive at Joey Drew Studios, a classic animation studio that has long been abandoned by humans. However, some voices remain, in the form of audiotapes scattered around the environment — a similar mechanic can be found in the iconic Bioshock series. These abandoned tapes explain how things were at Joey Drew Studios, before something went wrong. In the middle of this environment, lies the secret to unlock everything; the Ink Machine. Chapter 1 is generally concerned with exploring the studio and fixing the machine.

Chapter 2: "The Old Song"

Joey Drew Studios comes equipped to produce every part of a cartoon; art, animation, voices, and music were all once produced within the studio's depths.

Chapter 2 is a short but sweet continuation of Chapter 1, where Henry continues his exploration of the studio in an attempt to find the exit. However, now that he's fixed the Ink Machine, things in the studio have gotten more difficult to maneuver. Ink fills entire corridors, making them essentially impassable. Also, there may or may not be a literal ink demon tracking your movements.

Chapter 3: "Rise and Fall"

Don't let the advertisements fool you; there is absolutely nothing heavenly about Joey Drew Studios.

Chapter 3 is the latest installment of Bendy and the Ink Machine, and it is now abundantly clear that you are not the only thing walking around in the studio. Now you have a companion; Boris the Wolf, the Joey Drew equivalent of Goofy, who follows you silently and provides hints about what you need to do next. However, not everything in this studio is so benevolent. Another character has emerged from the shadows of the Ink Machine: Alice Angel. Marketed as something between Minnie Mouse and Jessica Rabbit, Alice has only one goal: becoming perfect. And now, you must do her bidding in order to escape.

Don't miss this indie horror phenomenon!

Bendy and the Ink Machine is available on Steam for Mac and Windows machines. The release dates for Chapters 4 and 5 are unknown at this point, but the gaming community is anticipating them with bated breath. And at around $6.50 USD for each paid chapter, this incredible horror experience is available for everyone. Don't miss out!