New indie studio Tethys Games has just announced its first game, Fine Work, which combines the mechanics of rhythm games and visual novels. Set in the science-fantasy setting of Gleamhold, the play takes the role of a Sendshaper, an artisan who shapes memories into artifacts and can get to know seven different characters in a replayable branching narrative.
Client’s memories are explored through ‘beatmaps’, musical rhythm sections that allow the player to experience each character’s specific personality through music. The player’s performance in these beatmaps can change the quality of the artifacts the character creates.
Studio Tethys Games was formed by openly LGBTQ+ creators and makers in the United States. The game director Casey McKinney says, “We want Fine Work to embody the strange tenderness and unpredictability inherent to really knowing and loving people”. Notably, all characters in Fine Works use the Finnish gender-neutral pronoun hän, a creative choice that reflects the game’s developers and stands in stark contrast with the often vitriolic rhetoric that accompanies gender inclusion in video games.
The studio is planning a Kickstarter campaign for the game and the release of a new demo in January 2025. The Kickstarter will involve limited-edition merchandise that showcases the game’s art and music, ranging from art prints, enamel pins, plushies and more. The previous alpha demo of the game is currently available on Itch.io and you can also wishlist Fine Work on Steam right now, and follow the studio’s socials via their website. Fine Work is currently scheduled for release in Q3 of 2025.
About the Author
Cass Barkman
she/they
Cass is a senior tutor in Media and Communications at Unimelb with a personal/academic love for experimental narrative videogames, complex cinema and having a little nap.
