Pharaoh's Secrets · published
Hi everyone!
We've just updated the Pharaoh's Secrets demo to version 0.2. Most of this update is about how the game feels in your hands: what happens when you click, when you miss, when you're stuck and when you finish a level. Here's everything that's new.
When you start playing, a short tutorial on a papyrus strip shows you, one step at a time, how to spot a difference, turn the island and zoom in.
It stays out of your way: steps you already know are skipped, and it disappears once you've learned them all.
If you get stuck, it points you to the magnifying glass.
Each difference you find plays a note that climbs a musical scale, so a good streak literally sounds better.
Both objects bounce, a ring of sand bursts out and the camera gives a tiny kick.
A gem flies from where you clicked into the counter at the top: turquoise, lapis lazuli and carnelian set in gold. Find them all and a wave runs across the row.
Every click leaves a small puff of sand, and a miss is marked with a red-ochre brush stroke.
A little click tolerance, so you don't need pixel-perfect aim.
Clicking the interface, the border between the two scenes or a difference you've already found never counts as a mistake.
Dragging to turn the island never counts as a click.
The mouse wheel zooms toward whatever is under your cursor.
Every island is framed automatically, and the camera steps back on its own when you turn toward a tall palm tree or obelisk instead of going through it.
New keyboard controls: Q/E/A/D/W/S or the arrow keys to turn, R/F or +/− to zoom.
The magnifying glass now moves the camera to show you a difference, picking the one closest to where you're looking.
Three faience beads show how many hints you have left. Click the glass or press H.
If you go 30 seconds without finding anything, the magnifying glass gently reminds you it's there.
Finishing a level unrolls a papyrus where up to three clay seals are stamped one by one, depending on your mistakes and hints, together with your time and your record.
Your seals appear under each level on the world map, and every region shows how much of it you've completed.
Unlocking a level is now a small ceremony: the path is painted in, a clay seal cracks and breaks, and the next level rises out of the ground.
The map opens right where your next level is waiting.
A completely new interface inspired by real Egyptian art: papyrus, carved sandstone, painted friezes and ink drawings.
Reworked lighting and colour on every level: warmer sunsets, glowing braziers and richer colours.
New ink-style transitions between scenes.
A pause menu (Esc or P) with music and effects volume. The timer stops while you're paused, and the game pauses itself when you switch to another window.
If the game closes in the middle of a level, you pick up exactly where you left off.
Your progress is saved more safely.
The wishlist button at the end of the demo now opens the store page right inside Steam.
English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Dutch, Turkish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean. The game starts in your Steam language and you can change it any time in Settings.
The first time you play, we ask whether you'd like to share gameplay statistics (time per level, hints, mistakes and performance) to help us balance the levels. Nothing is sent unless you say yes, and you can change your mind in Settings at any time.
Thanks for playing! If something feels off or you get stuck, let us know in the discussions. And if you enjoy the demo, adding Pharaoh's Secrets to your wishlist really helps us.