Whispers in the Moss (2024)

Whispers in the Moss is an artisan retro JRPG with some of the most beautiful and detailed text-based graphics you’ve ever seen. Experience an epic story, a fun turn-based battle system, and a full custom soundtrack.

Step into a world enveloped by the familiar warm embrace of retro JRPG charm with “Whispers in the Moss.” A tribute to the days of 8-bit and 16-bit console classics, the game invites gamers on an adventure that sets three young heroes from a humble fishing village against an empire’s quest for unrivaled power, and a deposed prince’s journey to restore balance.

Developed by Uncultured Games, this game unveils a more ominous secret as the journey unfolds — a growing threat from underworld fiends. Armed with physical attacks, magic spells, battle items, and special skills, players face the challenge of strategical combat reminiscent of earlier Final Fantasy installments.

Although the larger narrative holds plenty of emotional twists, lighthearted humor, and vibrant characters, it’s the game’s high-resolution text-mode graphics that truly raises the stakes. Using ANSI/ASCII-style visuals to create a unique take on retro gaming, “Whispers in the Moss” breaks new ground in the application of text-based graphics in the gaming world.

Taking retro authenticity even further, the game is coded entirely in QB64, a modern variant of the famed QuickBASIC programming language. The soundtrack, composed by game developer Tapio, boasts over 50 original tracks, a testament to the developer’s dedication and drawing inspiration from industry legends such as Nobuo Uematsu and Yoko Shimomura.

“Whispers In The Moss” offers a wealth of content past its main storyline, like an array of side quests, monster hunts, mini-games, and hidden secrets. With more than 170 unique monsters to conquer, there is substantial depth to the game beyond the principal narrative.

Launched on May 31, 2024, “Whispers in the Moss” is available on Steam and other platforms, seamlessly blending the nostalgic retro experience with the convenience of modern gaming systems. This epic journey is a solo venture of Tapio, a father, a marketing professional, and the sole mastermind of Uncultured Games, who has managed to balance life and passion over 12 years of development, faithfully crafting all elements of the game essentially single-handedly.

In a nutshell, “Whispers in the Moss” is a stunning tribute to the retros, a modern testament to the timeless allure of vintage gaming, and above all, a clear demonstration that the essence of passion-driven indie gaming is still very much alive and well.