Melbourne, Australia – April 29, 2026 | Melbourne-based studio Plot Twist has announced that their murder graphic novel Ashes is launching in Steam Early Access on May 7.

Ashes is a visual novel set in Victoria, Australia, that follows Azar Warren, a 16-year-old skater hiding out at her estranged grandfather’s rural compound after witnessing a gruesome murder.

Blending graphic novel panels with interactive puzzles, Ashes sees Azar fight not only to keep herself safe but also to reveal dark truths about people she thought she could trust.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to deliver this early access version of Ashes into people’s hands.” Shared lead developer Cléa Frost. “As a small but devoted team, Ashes has been a real labour of love for everyone involved and we can’t wait to hear from our players as we continue to develop the game.”

The Early Access launch will feature the first 11 chapters of the game, with the full 1.0 release planned for December 2026. Plot Twist intends to use the Early Access Period to finish the story, as well as further refine the existing mini-games, add new mini-games and provide exciting new narrative content.

Ashes is launching in Steam Early Access on May 7 for US$3.99. For more information, consider following Plot Twist on Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

About Ashes

Ashes is a visual novel set in Victoria, Australia, that follows Azar Warren, a 16-year-old skater hiding out at her estranged grandfather’s rural compound after witnessing a gruesome murder.

Blending graphic novel panels with interactive puzzles, Ashes sees Azar fight not only to keep herself safe but also to reveal dark truths about people she thought she could trust.

A Story of Murder and Suspense

While hiding from those determined to silence her, Azar takes refuge at her estranged grandfather’s property. However, his strange behaviour soon leads her to suspect Stan is harbouring terrible secrets of his own.

Puzzle Solving

Ashes blends visual novel elements with mini-game puzzles that engage with the world.

From piecing together torn-up photos to cracking the code for a mysterious lockbox to firing a rifle at a homemade shooting range, Azar will need her wits about her as threats lurk in the shadows.

An Interactive Graphic Novel

With a dynamic graphic novel visual style, the hand-crafted artwork captures the magnitude of Azar’s story with a gritty depiction of Victoria, Australia.