Melbourne-based studio Plot Twist has announced that Ashes, its upcoming murder-themed graphic novel, will launch in Steam Early Access this April, bringing a distinctly Australian setting and tone to the interactive fiction space.
Set in rural Victoria, Ashes follows Azar Warren, a 16-year-old skater forced into hiding after witnessing a brutal murder. Seeking refuge, Azar retreats to the isolated property of her estranged grandfather, Stan a decision that quickly proves unsettling as his increasingly erratic behaviour hints at secrets far darker than she expected. What begins as a desperate attempt to stay alive slowly unravels into a deeper mystery about trust, family, and buried truths.
Rather than leaning purely on dialogue choices, Ashes blends graphic novel storytelling with interactive puzzle-solving. Players will piece together torn photographs, crack codes, unlock hidden compartments, and even take part in hands-on sequences like firing a rifle at a makeshift shooting range. These moments are designed to ground the narrative in physical interaction, keeping tension high as danger closes in.
Plot Twist founder Cléa Frost described the project as a product of experimentation born during Melbourne’s pandemic lockdowns, when traditional film and television production ground to a halt.
“During Melbourne’s pandemic lockdowns, when most film and TV production was shut down, I started experimenting with interactive storytelling, a new obsession,” Frost said. “Gathering a small team of talented, passionate collaborators, we tested mechanics and techniques before I landed on the concept and format of Ashes.”
Frost also pointed to the creative freedom of interactive fiction as a driving force behind the project. “Interactive fiction holds such opportunity to expand what we consider to be a game, as well as to explore stories, characters and worlds that we don’t usually get to see. Nothing I’ve done creatively has brought me more joy than Ashes, and I can’t wait for people to play it.”
Visually, Ashes presents itself as a hand-crafted interactive graphic novel, using stark, gritty artwork to capture the mood of regional Victoria. The panel-based presentation emphasizes isolation and unease, reinforcing the sense that Azar is never truly safe even in places meant to offer shelter.
With its Australian setting, focus on suspense-driven storytelling, and hybrid approach to puzzles and narrative, Ashes is shaping up as a notable addition to Steam’s growing visual novel catalogue when it enters Early Access later this year.
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