Indie developer jakefriend released a playable demo of a passion project in September 2020, titled Scrabdackle. Word quickly spread around of an upbeat and quaint, top-down adventure game for a few months, motivating Jake to debut the project on Kickstarter in March 2021. What happened next was unbelievable. Within a month the project massively snowballed into a highly anticipated indie title. Scrabdackle reached its fundraising goal of $24,000 just within 5 days of its campaign going live, ultimately raising over $40,000 on Kickstarter by April 2021. Overwhelmed by the positive reception, Jake committed to developing Scrabdackle into a full length game. Working alongside the publisher Fellow Traveler, Jake intends to split Scrabdackle into 3 narrative acts spanning about 40-50 hours.

The latest demo is a hearty slice of the first act, featuring polished gameplay, an original soundtrack, and charming pixel brushed art. Act 1 will release in late 2025, followed by Act 2 and 3 in the next few years.

Scrabdackle Demo Gameplay Synopsis

The Adventure Begins…

In Scrabdackle, a novice wizard named Blue is tossed into a mysterious world after an attack on the wizard academy. As Blue finds their way back to the academy, they run into the eccentric inhabitants of the outside world, including hostile enemies and unexpected friends. The mystery thickens as Blue explores the world and finds inconsistencies in their knowledge from the academy and discovers that wizardry has had unexpected effects on the world and its inhabitants.

Travel and Exploration

Scrabdackle is a non-linear metroidvania, meaning it requires you to find and earn items and abilities to solve puzzles and gain access to new areas. The non-linear exploration allows for a relaxing, self-paced adventure. There are no timers or severe consequences to losing a battle. Dying respawns you at the last checkpoint you saved at so you can jump right back into the action.

The map is chunked into squares and sprinkled with checkpoints to save the game and restore health. The world is immediately open at start of the game with the only limits to nearby exploration being combat difficulty. Some areas are locked behind puzzles that require a bit of critical thinking to pass. Otherwise, they encourage you to explore other parts of the map and return later with new abilities.

Scrabdackle is jam packed with secrets and lore. As you encounter diverse flora and fauna in new areas, equip the scry to study and record them into your journal. The field journal fills with charming sketches and observational writing in a cursive fantasy font as you explore. I usually skip or return to read lore drops as reading supplementary information in the middle of a game often interrupts my flow. However, Scrabdackle’s imaginative character designs and intriguing lore frequently invited me to pause and read excerpts of Blue’s witty writing.

Spells and Combat

Progression through completing quests and discovering new items unlocks spells which expand combat and exploration in new and unique ways. Blue starts off with a basic wand that shoots magical bolts, and boots to dash across chasms and dodge enemy attacks. Stamina is replaced by a magic condenser, equivalent to mana, which has to be rationed for consistent spellcasting or recharged after casting several spells in a row.

Abilities are intuitive and easily incorporated into the changing play styles as you upgrade Blue into a master wizard. Although the demo only features two attack spells, there is so much versatility in how you approach different enemies. Additionally, the Kickstarter page outlines spells in development, such as summoning a defensive pillar and spraying elements, which will add even more diversity to combat and exploration.

Each region of the map contains unique enemies and boss fights. Fast paced and engaging combat requires you alternate between various spells to deal damage while defending and dodging attacks. Basic enemies have a handful of attacks while bosses perform a variety of moves across different phases of the fight. Boss arenas have strategic designs to give a fresh and unique experience for each battle. None of the enemies or battles felt too repetitive or too complex. Scrabdackle hits that sweet spot of satisfying and challenging combat which makes you lean forward in your seat during the action but doesn’t discourage you from quitting the adventure.

Scrabdackle’s Whimsical World

Scrabdackle’s narrative design and hand-drawn 2D art style uplift its cozy and comforting atmosphere. Jake’s use of the 2D pixel brush to draw each element is simple yet charming. Walking across the map feels like flipping through a children’s sketchbook. Each region has a distinct design and color palette, making the world extremely diverse and a joy to explore. The design of the characters are playful and imaginative. I just want to reach out into the screen and peel them off like stickers to decorate my bedroom.

Entering the Peanut Village immediately reminded me of one my all time favorite cartoons, Adventure Time. The peanut shaped buildings and goofy peanut people with silly dialogue are reminiscent of Adventure Time’s Candy Kingdom and Candy people. Scrabdackle expresses that same carefree and playful themes of children’s cartoons. Scrabdackle’s lightheartedness is a breath of fresh air from other 2D action or metroidvania games which have a more serious tone and intricate graphics. There’s no exploding corpses, flying bullets, or slashing swords. Scrabdackle is a wholesome experience that reminds you of childhood curiosity and imagination.

Final Thoughts

Scrabdackle has just the right amounts of adventure and challenge to keep you engaged. Exploring the world invokes a sense of innocent curiosity and the cozy and cute art style warms the heart. The movement, combat, and animations are smooth and intuitive. The map design is creative, thoughtful, and filled with engaging puzzles. Overall, Scrabdackle is a fun and polished game that makes you smile as you play.