Sketch Tales is based on a brilliant idea - a sandbox RPG where you can draw, animate and even voice things while in-game.

But you can completely ignore that, if you wish. There's fun to be had no matter how you approach the game - landscapes designed for exploration, quests to find and perform, structures to build, beasts to kill and loot to hunt.

I spent my first hour just wandering around in confusion with a goofy grin. I was chased by enemies who muttered daft things at me or played the harmonica. I laughed as I killed something whose body span comically down the hill. I picked up a quest from an NPC who then randomly wandered off to fight a ninja. The whole thing is a living, breathing cartoon that oozes charm.

My "blind let's play" video of my first game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eqT1-DvBbw

You'll need to consider a few things before buying the game close to the early access release date:

1. Early Access here means that - it's very early days yet. There's lots to things to do, but not much depth. Just exploring the one island won't take long, but you can spend as much time as you want building and drawing etc.

2. The drawing element is essentially an in-game paint programme, with the ability to add basic animation frames if you want. Right now you can edit/draw anything you're holding in your inventory (if you have picked up the Witch Brush), plus you get to draw your character when you first start playing.

3. There'll be bugs - unoptimised graphics, a couple of spelling mistakes, features that don't seem to work - but they'll get fixed. No full crashes, but did have to reload quite a bit to clear any built-up lag, though.

4. The building isn't as intuitive as Minecraft, with (simple) menus to select shapes and so on, but once you get the hang of it you can build blocky structures easily. You can alter the default cube to stuff like ramps, arches and flat bits too.

5. You don't get given all the building/colouring tools at the start - you need to go out and find them in the world on scrolls. Plus, everything you build requires energy, which uses up very fast and then slowly fills back up again. You can find items that increase your max energy, but at the start of the game you're very limited (This applies to story mode - I don't know yet if sandbox mode will have this limitation).

6. Fighting is very basic. You start with fists but I recommend finding an axe!

Sketch Tales is already a lot of fun and shows amazing potential but right now it's very rough around the edges. I recommend it, but I'm most interested in what's to come. Multiplayer, when it happens, should be a riot.

* More Sketch Tales videos
* More Randomise User indie game videos

Thanks to the developers for providing a pre-release version for review.

bought and refunded the game.

Sadly there isn't much to do ingame, and the devs seem to not care about this game anymore. The last update was last year and there hasn't been any communication between the devs and the community.

I really love the creative aspect of the game, the ability to create your own characters is fun and all, but sadly there isn't really much to do.

Plus the game is pretty buggy, it crashes alot and the graphics have a wierd dark taint to it, I doubt that this was a creative decision and rather faulty lighting effects. Overall the gameplay is clunky and not really worth getting into.

I'd have kept the game if the devs would still work on it, but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case.

I really love the idea behind this game, but sadly the execution isn't really good.

I played this game back when it first came out, and found the game to be very, very empty and dull. Sure, the creative aspect of the game was all there, but that was it. I refunded it then to see if the game would come out to be better after some time of development.

Well, almost 2 years later, and it seems the devs have abandoned the game. It's been six month's since the last update, which was a "closed beta" that apparantely broke most core features of the game. Since then, the devs have made no contact with the community, and, as far as I can tell, haven't even made any progress with the game in the updates they have made.

After seeing what I would call the fall of this game, I would say I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this game to anyone, unless the devs reappear to actually fix the game.

Also, please note that the play time is not right for some reason. I played for about 4-6 hours, throughout a couple different "playthroughs".

I sense much potential in this one, but its empty as ♥♥♥♥. What you're actually buying is probably the chance to buy it for a cheap price while its still empty. Game is buggy as my virus filled laptop and you start off without any knowledge of what to do and how to do it. There are little tips here and there and also a vague tutorial but thats about it. At the moment I'd rate it a 2/10 but its got the potential to be a 9/10.

Would I recommend it now as a game that can be played? Nope. Its Empty and Lonely. Although, If you're like me and like the concept of this game, go ahead and buy it! Support the game and give the devs some inspiration by showing them that people like their idea and want to see it to its fullest. Would I recommend it to people who are active in game development forums and want to help develop the game by simply buying it? Of Course I would!

Bought it because who dosnt want to be able to play with their ideas. But oh how i was disapointed. Not only are the mechanics buggy at best, it hasnt been updated in two years, and they are planning on making a free to play version. Dont buy, its a scam, devs have forgotten it

It's with a heavy heart that I can't recommend this game. I don't regret my purchase; the concept was fun when I bought it years ago. The art was quirky, the game was fresh and different. However the developers couldn't get enough funding to finish the game so it died.

I wish the developers luck on their next iteration of the game and once that one is finished I'll consider buying that one.

I think they took my money and ran?

Abandonware, DO NOT BUY!

ABANDONED GAME! DON'T BUY!

the game have been abandoned and the devs are planning to make a free to play version.

this is the ultimate betrayal for those who bought the game.

i put it in my scam category and let it rot there.

a game with infinite potential.
There goes without saying. It is strongly influenced by minecraft and dont starve. But the special twist in it makes it unique.
My graphic tablets work perfectly in there too, which adds to the magic.

There is something you may not have seen in it as a very unique potential. It could be a good ''first step'' to graphic tablets for younger people or newcomers to the digital art scene. As a father of 4 kids and as an illustration and 3d modeling artist, I totally see this game becoming huge in my household, and a perfect way to break the ice with graphic tablets for my kids. They will enjoy it and who knows, maybe want to go further using it.

This game also has a potential to be a new hype in schools, just like minecraft did. Bring it to tablets and im pretty sure you will find a solid audience.

Keep on working hard :-)