- Games
- Inkbound
Inkbound
Plan simultaneous turns with up to four players and build new combinations of powers on each roguelike run.
Online co-op for up to 4 players.
- 4 online
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op4 players
- Local co-opNoOnline only
- Not confirmedFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- Not confirmedA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckPlayableValve's own rating
About the game
You enter magical books from the Atheneum library and fight through their stories. Pick a class, collect abilities and combine items into a different build on each attempt. Combat uses turns, but you move freely within your movement allowance. Enemy attacks are shown in advance, so each turn asks you to decide what to kill, what to block and where to stand.
Up to four players take their actions at the same time online. You can discuss who should attack first and how your powers work together before committing. Between fights you choose rewards and routes, then return to the library after the run. Unlocks add more choices for future attempts. It suits friends who enjoy talking through tactical decisions and testing combinations rather than relying on quick reactions.
How it feels
Kind of game
You play on the same side through shared levels, matches, missions or jobs. Progress comes from combining your actions toward the same objective.
- At its heart
- Now and then
- Calm and coziness
- Story
- Time to hang out
- Exploring
- Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- About
- Fantasy adventure
Rated on our own feel scale. 5 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked Inkbound
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
Fellowship
Why it scores 94%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Fantasy adventure
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
How Fellowship differs
- More to unlock than Inkbound
- Early access
- 4 online
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both are about a fantasy adventure. Both have a lot of fighting side by side.
But more to unlock than Inkbound.
Slay the Spire 2
Why it scores 94%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Fantasy adventure
- Core to both
- Planning ahead, Fighting
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Getting better
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
- Early access
- 4 online
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both reward planning before you act. Both are about a fantasy adventure.
No big difference from Inkbound.
Sephiria
Why it scores 93%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Fantasy adventure
- Core to both
- Fighting
- Sessions
- Repeatable runs
- Notable in both
- Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better
- Co-op
- Online co-op for up to 4 players
- 4 online
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both play in runs or missions you repeat. Both are about a fantasy adventure.
No big difference from Inkbound.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Does not apply
- Split or shared screen
- Does not apply
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
- 2
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Crossplay
- Not confirmed
- Crossplay between
- Not confirmed
- Friends can join mid-game
- Not confirmed
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Sources
8 pages
shinyshoe.comOfficial site, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Release date, Genres, Sessions, About, Planning ahead.
- Online co-op: The maker describes online cooperative play.
- Release date: The current anniversary section gives the full launch as 9 April 2024 after early access.
- Genres: The maker identifies a roguelike RPG with tactical strategy.
- Sessions: Procedurally generated runs involve drafted upgrades and route choices.
- About: The maker identifies a fantasy RPG with books that become worlds.
- Planning ahead: Choosing upgrades, routes and tactical actions is the main activity.
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID, Release status, Platforms, Most players online, Fighting, Free base co-op.
- Steam app ID: This is the current base-game product for app 1062810.
- Release status: The released base game has a purchase offer.
- Platforms: The system requirements specify Windows.
- Most players online: The description limits cooperative parties to four.
- Fighting: Turns centre on fighting enemies with abilities.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID.
- Steam app ID: Steam identifies Inkbound as app 1062810.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Playable on Steam Deck.
steamcommunity.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Local co-op.
- Local co-op: The verified developer community manager says one player per device. The post was last edited 8 February 2023.
gamedeveloper.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Most players online, Kind of game, Working in sync.
- Most players online: Shiny Shoe CEO Mark Cooke explicitly confirms two to four players on 11 June 2024.
- Kind of game: The developer describes a party combining simultaneous actions against the same enemies.
- Working in sync: Players act together during turns and coordinate their abilities.
pcgamer.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Tension and danger, Story, Getting better, Unlocks and progress.
- Tension and danger: PC Gamer, 12 April 2024, describes dangerous attacks and regular difficulty spikes.
- Story: Recurring characters and dialogue frame repeated attempts.
- Getting better: Learning enemy threats and item combinations takes repeated attempts.
- Unlocks and progress: Permanent unlocks broaden the item pool without increasing starting statistics.
shacknews.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Exploring, Time to hang out, Calm and coziness.
- Exploring: Shacknews, 17 April 2024, describes route choices and limited environmental interaction between fights.
- Time to hang out: Tactical decisions occupy attention during battles.
- Calm and coziness: The library and reward choices interrupt the fighting.