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Code‑Breaking Mystery TR-49 Marks Inkle’s Best‑Ever Launch

Early reviews praise meticulous code-breaking, strong writing, standout voice work.

Overview

  • Inkle says TR-49 delivered the studio’s best launch in 14 years, with creator Jon Ingold describing it as a nine‑month Godot project positioned as a four‑hour, $7 “one‑sitting” game.
  • The game released January 21 on Steam and iOS, making it available on Windows PC via Steam and on Apple mobile devices.
  • Players work a WWII‑era archival computer by inputting two‑letter, two‑number codes to uncover interlinked documents, with an in‑world radio thread adding urgency and direction.
  • Critics widely commend the narrative and performances, noting a satisfying, tactile interface that makes operating the machine feel integral to the experience.
  • Reviews also cite friction from long bouts of text‑sifting and the potential to brute‑force codes, though a robust auto‑organizing journal helps steer investigations, and one outlet interprets the story as a pointed political allegory.