The Studio That Came to Life
First released in 2017 by Kindly Beast (formerly known as Joey Drew Studios), Bendy and the Ink Machine is a first-person horror adventure set in a decrepit 1930s cartoon studio. You play as Henry, a former animator who returns to his old workplace after receiving a mysterious letter. What he finds is a building consumed by ink — and a nightmare version of the studio's mascot character, Bendy, stalking the flooded corridors. The game's sepia-toned aesthetic, vintage cartoon art style, and chapter-based storytelling earned it a devoted fanbase that expanded into music, novels, and merchandise.
Gameplay Overview
Each of the five chapters has a distinct structure: exploration, puzzle-solving, collecting items to activate machinery, and sequences where you must hide or run from the ink demon chasing you. The game rewards thorough exploration — audio logs and written notes scattered throughout the studio flesh out the lore and explain what went wrong at Joey Drew's animation company.
Tips for Surviving the Studio
- Listen for the heavy footsteps and ambient distortion that signal Bendy is nearby before he's visible.
- Hiding in wardrobes when the ink demon appears is the only reliable way to avoid him in early chapters.
- Collect all audio logs even if they seem optional — they add context that makes later revelations hit harder.
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