Announced at the latest Xbox and Bethesda Showcase, Ravenlok is set to be indie developer Cococucumber's next release. True to the studio's now-iconic 3D pixel art style, Ravenlok is presumably the third and possibly final entry in the studio's "Voxel Trilogy" as it follows in the wake of Riverbond and Echo Generation. Having earned acclaim for its previous titles, Cococucumber could be once again aiming high for indie games as it tackles more unique source material.
The inspiration behind Ravenlok is easily discerned by those familiar with the tale, but it has been over a decade since any official Alice in Wonderland games have been released. Unlike Cococucumber's other acclaimed games, the studio seems to be delving into the surreal and fantastical as it draws together the Alice in Wonderland aesthetic, blending it with an action-adventure fairytale twist.
Revisiting Cococucumber's Legacy
In an interview for 80.LV, Cococucumber's co-founder Vanessa Chia went into great detail about the studio's beginnings, its direction, and what it hoped to achieve with its games, promoting the release of its latest title Echo Generation. Clearly, Chia and her team were doing something right, as the game went on to win the Best Indie Game award at the Canadian Game Awards just this year, and so riding this high the studio moved to its next game. The interview was poignant, as Chia references a third and final game that was, at the time, unnamed in the studio's "Voxel Trilogy." It's safe to assume that this third game is now the soon-to-be-released Ravenlok.
While the inspiration behind Echo Generation was based on small-town stories with a mix of RPG and campiness to boot, Ravenlok is a clear divergence from its predecessor. Its announcement trailer seems to succinctly reflect this transition from the real to the surreal, as it leads viewers to a mirror in the protagonist's new family farmhouse. Alongside nods to both The Wizard of Oz and Through The Looking Glass, from Dorothy's farm to the mirror out of Alice in Wonderland canon, the protagonist is pulled through said mirror against their wishes by an unknown force and taken to the mystical world where Ravenlok takes place.
Alice in Wonderland's Influence over Ravenlok
The allusions to Alice in Wonderland aren't hard to spot, as they're scattered throughout the announcement trailer, ranging from the rabbit dressed in Mad hatter attire to the dapper monocle-donning cat. However, the connection becomes undeniable thanks to the rather monstrous Queen of Hearts-inspired creature. The creative decision to draw from the literary works of Lewis Carroll and to carry on the tried-and-tested visuals etched into the Alice in Wonderland ethos is a brilliant move should the studio be deciding to venture to greener pastures. Echo Generation received criticism as well as praise, such as complaints about outlandish story components, something which could easily be rectified with the absurdist world Carroll offers.
Unlike modern readings of Alice in Wonderland, it's highly unlikely that Ravenlok would be tackling the complexity of mental illness, and though while it would have been an interesting spin for the game, perhaps Cococucumber thought better when designing an action-adventure game to keep away from the heavy subject material. The game could stay true to Carroll's original vision of a new branch of fairytales, of a heroine taken from her home and thrown into a realm very charming yet utterly strange. With only an announcement trailer to base first impressions on, the game itself looks promising thanks to its unique art style, diverse areas to explore, and a wealth of enemies to fight as players presumably seek to find a way back home.
Ravenlok will be released in 2023 for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: 80.LV