Obsidian Entertainment announced Wednesday that Penitentiary, the developer’s upcoming medieval narrative-adventure game, will be released on Nov. 15. Obsidian said in an Xbox Wire post that pre-orders for the game are now available, and reaffirmed that Penitentiary will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.
The brainchild of director Josh Sawyer, the game puts players in the role of Andreas Maler, a journey artist-detective living in 16th century Bavaria during the time of the Holy Roman Empire. Over the course of 25 years, Maler must solve a series of murders and scandals set in the fictional town of Tassing and Kiersau Abbey. To do this, players will engage in a number of challenges, from sneaking into an abbey library undetected to prying information from loose-lipped tavern patrons.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23967699/04_8e4b24da6dc66385e39d.jpg)
Image: Obsidian Entertainment
Aside from the game’s historical fiction setting, the quality of Penitentiary that will most immediately leap out at players is the game’s art style, which draws inspiration from late medieval manuscripts, woodcut prints, and early modern tapestries. It’s certainly one of the most unique approaches to visual design seen in a game in recent years, comparable to the Greek black-figure pottery art style of 2015’s Apotheon.
Penitentiary will be released on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.