Narrow Deep, a two-person indie studio from South Korea, is scheduled to release the mystery horror visual novel Inquisitor Shepherd sometime in the first quarter of 2027. While this release window is tentative and subject to change, those looking to slip into the role of an inquisitor and try can try the Steam demo.
Set in a remote village in the religious nation of Vucrium, Inquisitor Shepherd follows the titular inquisitor as he investigates an ongoing heresy case. You’ll be gathering information, solving puzzles, and interrogating the locals in an investigation “filled with dread and chaos.”
At the heart of the case are 15 characters, each with their own stories and secrets, which you can unravel through conversations and the evidence you find. Your choices impact their fates and determine which of the multiple endings you will see.
Unique to the game is Shepherd’s Sin Powder ability, which heightens your senses and allows you to uncover information that would have otherwise remained undetected. This includes clues that are hidden in obscure areas or a confession from an otherwise unbreakable interrogee. With the evidence you have gathered, you must determine which suspects are truly guilty, and which have been falsely accused. Regardless of whether the verdict you pass is right or wrong, the story continues and will change accordingly. The Steam store page warns for psychological horror, depictions of extreme violence and gore, and criminal acts.
While Inquisitor Shepherd’s full scope is not yet known, the developers have confirmed three chapters so far. Chapter 1 was completed last November. Chapter 2 is currently in development and introduces the Purity and Fracture system, where Shepherd’s values and philosophy evolve based on his choices. Purity has Shepherd believing he is a powerful messenger of God and eradicating all heresy, no matter the cost. Fracture is the opposite, as it sees Shepherd distrusting the institution that sent him and forging his own path toward the truth. Drafts for the initial plot of Chapter 3 are currently in the works.
Inquisitor Shepherd is currently in development for Windows (Steam) and is set to release sometime in Q1 2027. The free demo covers roughly half of the Judgment phase of Chapter 1.
