Amanda the Adventurer begins with Riley Park inheriting their reclusive aunt's house. Riley explores what was left behind in the house. In the attic, Riley finds an old television set and VCR with a stack of VHS tapes containing episodes of a children's cartoon that appears to be from the early '00s. The cartoon is unfamiliar to Riley, who is curious enough to put in the first tape.
The cartoon appears to be simplistic and possibly locally-made. It stars a little girl named Amanda and her shy, loyal best friend named Wooly the Sheep. The episode seems charming and straightforward at first but becomes unsettling when Riley realizes the pair are communicating through the television. They desperately want to press stop, but something makes her keep watching. Amanda seems to need something, and Riley desperately wants to find out what.
The developer describes the game as a short yet intricate experience that tells an unsettling tale through a '90s-style cartoon. The characters interact directly with the player, which might seem like a dream come true but it could be the opposite — a nightmare. The gameplay involves difficult escape room-like puzzles solved using clues in the tapes.
Here is the game's original launch trailer:
Amanda the Adventurer is already available on one console: Nintendo Switch. Upon the title's PlayStation/Xbox launch, the Nintendo Switch version will get a free update that improves its graphics, performance, stability, and gameplay polish.
Developed by MANGLEDmaw Games and published by DreadXP, Amanda the Adventurer will be released for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, and Xbox One on October 10. It is currently available for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
