In 2014, Andrew Shouldice decided it was time to pursue his dream of developing a video game that paid homage to his formative experiences of the medium. He wanted to evoke the wonder and mystery of those early adventures that left so much unspoken, so much unknown; titles that came with extensive manuals that only aroused his curiosity further. When it was time to take the first step along that path, he pulled out his sketchbook and wrote three words.

"Make a game."

Development began in earnest in 2015 and seven years later he achieved that goal, as Tunic was released to a rapturous reception from players and critics alike. Its development journey had been long and complex, and Shouldice had traced each and every step in that very same sketchbook – and several more besides.

Tunic: Design Works offers the ultimate exploration of that seven-year journey. Written by award-winning author and critic Christian Donlan (The Unmapped Mind), it takes readers through every location in the game, with insights and developer testimony explaining how each setting transformed on its own voyage from Shouldice's imagination to a tangible, explorable digital space. Alongside these will be deep dives into the game's key elements and themes, from its vulpine protagonist to its well-hidden secrets and that delightful in-game manual – illustrated with screens, artwork and glimpses of development builds. 

And that's not all. Befitting a game full of surprises, Tunic: Design Works features one of its own. Shouldice's incredible archive of sketchbooks is included here in all its glory, providing a uniquely detailed examination of the creative process. Through extensive notes, checklists, doodles and more, the reader gains a comprehensive and endlessly fascinating insight into the evolution of this captivating game.