Realm of Ink Review (PC)
Summary: Realm of Ink sets itself apart with a gorgeous art style that makes every run through its isometric hack-and-slash roguelite world a feast for the eyes.
3.9
Stylish Roguelite
In Realm of Ink, you take control of Red, a swordswoman trapped in a mysterious story who must fight through rooms of enemies to break free from her fate. Like most roguelikes, death is expected, and each run lets players experiment with new builds and gradually become stronger. Between runs, you are transported to the Fox Inn, a hub where you can level up your abilities and learn more about the world from other characters. The Fox Inn is also where you unlock harder difficulties and swap between 11 playable characters, all with their own unique attacks.
Throughout each run, enemies will drop Ink Relics, which give your character special abilities. You’re only able to equip two at a time, which forces you to think carefully about your choices, as picking up a new relic means deciding whether it’s good enough to replace one you’ve already got. What I particularly enjoyed was how these relics could completely change the direction of a run. When I first started playing, I would select relics based on their immediate benefits, but as I became more familiar with the game, I started planning builds around specific combinations and synergies.
You’ll also encounter Curios and Elixirs, both of which can significantly impact your build. Curios provide passive bonuses and unique effects, while Elixirs offer stat boosts that can increase your damage output, improve survivability, or enhance critical hits. These upgrades accumulate over the course of a run, allowing your character to become progressively stronger with each room cleared.
Accompanying Red throughout the adventure is Momo, an Ink Pet whose appearance and abilities are shaped by the relics you choose during a run. What initially seems like a cute companion quickly proves to be much more than that, as Momo can gain new abilities that complement your playstyle. Momo felt like a natural extension of my character, taking on different forms and contributing to combat in different ways depending on the abilities I equipped.
Realm of Ink’s stunning art direction helps elevate it beyond being just another isometric hack‑and‑slash roguelite. The game draws inspiration from traditional Chinese ink paintings, creating environments that feel like living artworks. Even after multiple runs, I paused to appreciate the scenery before another fight. During my first fight against Wish Stag, I was briefly distracted by the visuals beneath my character’s feet. Waves of liquid gold rippled across the arena floor, reminiscent of the Elden Beast arena in Elden Ring. The locations are not identical, but both are so visually impressive that you can’t help but stop and take in the spectacle around you.
Moreover, the audio supports the atmosphere well. The soundtrack is subtle and lets the action take centre stage. Attacks land with satisfying weight, making combat feel fast and impactful. While no tracks have lingered in my mind since playing the game, the soundtrack consistently complements the experience and helps bring the world to life.
Final Thoughts
What impressed me most about Realm of Ink is how it kept pulling me back in, which is perhaps the highest compliment I can give. Every run felt like an opportunity to try a new combination of relics and spend more time experimenting with the abilities the game has to offer. Although it’s easy to spot the influence of previous titles, Realm of Ink never feels as if it’s living in another game’s shadow. It confidently stands on its own as a roguelite that’s as rewarding to play as it is beautiful to look at. For fans of the genre, Realm of Ink is an easy recommendation and one that I found difficult to put down.
About the Author
Jade Darton Jade is a web developer and Computer Science BSc student from Suffolk, UK with a passion for games and writing about them.
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