Mascot horror is back in bizarre fashion with Dark Pals . Its debut chapter traps you inside an abandoned children’s asylum, full of the twisted hopes and dreams of its previous tenants.

With lore reminiscent of Poppy Playtime’s humble beginnings, and gameplay not too dissimilar to High on Life , Dark Pals throws puzzles and chase sequences at you in familiar fashion with eccentric ideas that should have you leaving this chapter curious to see more.

Here is a rundown of The 1st Floor : a summary of its story so far, our interpretation of its strange entities, and a reminder of its lore before heading to the next floor (when it releases).

Table of contents

Dark Pals: The 1st Floor story, explained

All Dark Pals: The 1st Floor characters Chompy Chasey

Binky Drinky

Dark Pals: The 1st Floor ending, explained

Dark Pals: The 1st Floor story, explained

Image by Skunx Games

Entrusted with the Ink Blaster, an adorable toy that shoots ink to interact with objects, you arrive at Upward—an asylum for children.…