Seen NOT Heard

Seen NOT Heard is a turn based role playing game about Melia, a young girl who wakes from a nightmare to discover that her mouth has been sewn shut. She cannot remember what happened to her. The Kingdom around her is overrun with strange Monsters that may have witnessed the events, and by ending their suffering she can uncover echoes of her missing memories. The story examines how a deep trauma affected an entire family and how suffering can lead to further suffering.

Melia is joined by companions with their own lives and quirks, intended to bring humour to the story. These include Anselin, a rebellious herbalist who fights with a sickle and garden trowel; Nalya, an archer who says whatever comes to mind; and Hassan, a pyromancer and son of an emperor who becomes anxious when forced to break with etiquette. Players choose which companions to bring, upgrade them at their own pace and craft their equipment, with synergies available to those who investigate the systems. The game features 10 zones, each with its own atmosphere, history, secrets and Monsters, and combat is handled through a turn based system. Melia can also interact with the Kingdom’s citizens, some of whom react to her sewn mouth, though she is unable to speak.

The visual style is inspired by traditional sketch and watercolour art, with the texture of brushstrokes on grainy paper. The original soundtrack was composed by Jean-Pascal Vielfaure, composer of the Uncle Albert series, and centres on the hangdrum to create a calm atmosphere.