The Premise

Play as Olin Earl, a friendly old grandfather who lies patiently upon his deathbed. Enter Death Himself, with his lantern upon his staff. Olin's time is coming soon, Death assures him. But in the meantime there are still other souls due to meet their makers first. While Death is listing off names from his Book of the Dead, he mentions a name that sends a chill down the old spine of Olin. The name is Alan Earl, Olin's grandson. Irate and confused, Olin pulls himself up from the imprint in his mattress, declaring that he must venture across the street to his grandson's house to warn him. But when he gets there, he finds Alan's studio to be in shambles, a puddle of blood on the floor. Death tries to talk him out of it, but Olin is determined to change fate. And so Death offers him a deal.

The Deal

The deal that Death offers to Olin is simple. Death will grant Olin the vitality of his youth. But he will also grant him the ability to see the hidden lost souls that litter the world of the living. Olin must use his regained vitality not only to save his grandson, but also to collect these lost souls on Death's behalf. If Olin isn't able to collect the lost souls by the time he himself dies, then he too will become a lost soul, and be cursed to spend his afterlife haunting the village.

Gameplay

The Final Days of Olin Earl is a non-linear platforming puzzle game in a tiny open world. It combines a few simple mechanics in order to explore unique and emergent puzzles:

Platforming: A revitalized Olin is unstoppable. He can run, jump, mantle ledges, and most importantly, glide through the air by opening his umbrella. Navigating the geometry of the world comes as a puzzle in itself.

Investigation: Gather info about the whereabouts of your grandson by talking to people around town and looking for clues, while trying to collect all the lost souls in the world.

Pockets: Important clues and other small items that fit in your pockets may be stashed for later. Things that are too large to fit in your pockets must be carried by hand. Very realistic!

Friend of Death: Call upon death as needed for a chat, to jog your memory, or to temporarily become a ghost.

Time and Weather: Sit down on a park bench and wait to advance the time to the next night or day. See what the villagers do differently when the weather is nice or rainy, and what they are up to at night.

Information Puzzles: Sometimes the solution has been right in front of your nose the whole time, you just didn't know you were looking for it yet.

Will you solve the mystery and save and your grandson from an ill-fated demise? Will you keep your end of your deal with Death? Will you return to your bed for your final butterscotch candy and your final slumber?