History VideoGame / TheCabinetsOfDoctorArcana

A sequel, ''[[https://doctorarcana.com/shadowspire.html Doctor Arcana and the Secret of Shadowspire]]'', is currently in production and will pick up where ''Cabinets'' ends. Doctor Arcana and the player are whisked away to an unfamiliar island, where the player will enter the eponymous castle, Shadowspire, and attempt to pass a series of trials left by the Elders of the Arcanum. New artwork for the game was made public in July 2021, and again in January 2022 and September 2022; Vargo is excited by the progress being made.

* {{Feelies}}: Although the game is available for download on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and Big Fish Games, a physical copy can also be purchased. The "Prestige Collection" includes a DVD copy of the game, the ''Theater of Illusion'' CD, and a collectible brass coin engraved like the Arcanum Amulet.

** If all else fails, the game actually contains a walkthrough accessible from the Options button on the main menu. It's called, humorously, the ''Cheater's Compendium'', and it's brimming with snark.

* BadassBaritone: Arcana, naturally, being voiced by Vargo. However, Arcana's voice is actually ''not'' as deep as Vargo's normal narration voice (which narrates the opening cutscene), being a bit whispery.

A sequel, ''[[https://doctorarcana.com/shadowspire.html Doctor Arcana and the Secret of Shadowspire]]'', is currently in production and will pick up where ''Cabinets'' ends. Doctor Arcana and the player are whisked away to an unfamiliar island, where the player will enter the eponymous castle, Shadowspire, and attempt to pass a series of trials left by the Elders of the Arcanum. New artwork for the game was made public in July 2021, and again in January 2022; Vargo is excited by the progress being made.

** The magic circle in the West Tower is the design on the ''Theater of Illusion'' disc. (It's an actual magic circle in real-life ceremonial magic, called the Sigillum Dei.)

** All of the characters in Vargo's paintings are given names. One of the two in the entrance hall is labeled "[[Series/{{Bewitched}} Endora]]," and the other is labeled "[[Film/{{Nosferatu}} Orlok]]. A painting of an Egyptian sorceress in the Attic is labeled "[[Literature/TheVampireChronicles Akasha]]".

** All of the characters in Vargo's paintings are given names. One of the pictures in the gallery is labeled [[Literature/TalesFromTheDarkTower "Rianna."]] One of the two in the entrance hall is labeled "[[Series/{{Bewitched}} Endora]]." A painting of an Egyptian sorceress is labeled [[Literature/TheVampireChronicles Akasha]].

** All of the characters in Vargo's paintings are given names. One of the pictures in the gallery is labeled [[Literature/TalesFromTheDarkTower "Rianna."]] One of the two in the entrance hall is labeled "[[Series/{{Bewitched}} Endora]]."

* {{Teleportation}}: An improved version of the first game's teleportation system is planned to allow the player to visit any location they have already unlocked.

** Sometimes, if you solve a puzzle correctly, Doctor Arcana will exclaim, "[[Film/ThePrincessBride Inconcievable!]]"

A sequel, ''[[https://doctorarcana.com/shadowspire.html Doctor Arcana and the Secret of Shadowspire]]'', is currently in production and will pick up where ''Cabinets'' ends. Doctor Arcana and the player are whisked away to an unfamiliar island, where the player will enter the eponymous castle, Shadowspire, and attempt to pass a series of trials left by the Elders of the Arcanum. New artwork for the game was made public in July 2021, and Vargo is excited by the progress being made.

''Most mortal minds will be confused, but a clever few will be amused.''

** The magic circle in the West Tower is the design on the ''Theater of Illusion'' disc.

A sequel, ''[[https://doctorarcana.com/shadowspire.html Doctor Arcana and the Secret of Shadowspire]]'', is currently in production and will pick up where ''Cabinets'' ends. Doctor Arcana and the player are whisked away to an unfamiliar island, where the player will enter the eponymous castle, Shadowspire, and attempt to pass a series of trials left by the Elders of the Arcanum.

* CreepyCemetery: One of the scenes shown in sneak peeks on the Nox Arcana website displays one of these.

* OnlySmartPeopleMayPass: The entire castle is apparently laid out as a series of tests by the Elders of the Arcanum, and [[spoiler:to formally join the ranks]], the player must solve the puzzles they left.

* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: Multiple puzzles involve dragons, such as the Museum Cabinet, the Guest Bedroom Cabinet, and the East Tower Cabinet.

* BookcasePassage: A secret passage in the Museum opens with a talisman inserted into the wall. A secret ''elevator'' is opened in the Library after two specific puzzles are solved.

* {{Feelies}}: Although the game is available for download on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and Big Fish Games, a physical copy can also be purchased. The "Prestige Collection" includes a DVD copy of the game, the official soundtrack CD, and a collectible brass coin engraved like the Arcanum Amulet.

* {{Teleportation}}: It's implied that the protagonist is teleporting every time they enter a room, since the doorways are all portals. A more obvious example is using the map feature.
-->'''Protagonist:''' ''(each time they solve a door puzzle)'' The door turned into a portal. Cool.

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Sometimes, when the protagonist completes a puzzle, Arcana's voice will incredulously exclaim, [[Film/ThePrincessBride "Inconceivable!"]]

* SpellBook: There's one in the Library. You have to solve a puzzle to open it, and then use the clue inside to solve three other puzzles.

A sequel, ''Doctor Arcana and the Secret of Shadowspire'', is currently in production and will pick up where this game ends.

!!Doctor Arcana sarcastically provides examples of:

* CosmeticAward: Finishing the game results in the player receiving a diploma of sorts - a scroll bearing their name and a list of how many hints they used, skips they employed, and clues and pieces of art they uncovered. It also grants them a ranking based on this final score; a perfect or near-perfect score puts them in the "Elite Order of Arcana." On the official website is the [[https://doctorarcana.com/hall-of-infamy.html Hall of Infamy]], which shows these awards won by players who beat the game on Halloween 2018.

* DarkIsNotEvil: Arcana's whole mansion is dark and spooky, covered in creepy artwork, and steeped in the occult, but Arcana himself is not evil, nor is anything in the mansion (except for the fact that you can't leave it) a danger to you. [[spoiler:Only one puzzle is life-threatening, near the end of the game, and it's explicitly clarified that you avoid the danger if you get it wrong.]]

* FeaturelessProtagonist: We know nothing about the player character except that the Arcanum Amulet is a family heirloom. They're never seen, are not voiced, and have no distinguishing characteristics of any kind.
* {{Feelies}}: Although the game is available for download on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and Big Fish Games, a physical copy can also be purchased. The "Prestige Collection" includes a DVD copy of the game, the official soundtrack CD, and a collectible brass coin engraved like the Arcanum Amulet.
* FunctionalMagic: Magic definitely exists in this universe, even if the game doesn't make it entirely clear how it works.

* MinimalistCast: The only characters in the entire game are the player and Doctor Arcana.

* OldDarkHouse: Arcana Manor is an almost stereotypical example, DramaticThunder and everything.

* TheXOfY: All of the Nox Arcana game titles fall into this.

** CosmeticAward: Those who succeed get their names added to the "[[https://noxarcana.com/grimstone-halloween.html account of the few brave souls]]" who earned the bragging rights.

* CreepyPainting: The very first room has a portrait of Uncle Victor over the mantel. The eyes don't move, but the face briefly turns into a skull, and the narration notes that the player character feels like Uncle Victor is watching them.

* FeaturelessProtagonist: As in the first game, we know nothing about the player except that they had a weird uncle who dabbled in dark magic and Grimstone Manor is their ancestral home.

* MinimalistCast: Even more than the first game, since the only character in the game is the player. Uncle Victor is DeadToBeginWith.

* OldDarkHouse: Grimstone Manor, right down to the ''name''.

** CosmeticAward: Those who succeeded on Halloween 2020 got their names added to the "[[https://noxarcana.com/grimstone-halloween.html account of the few brave souls]]" who earned the bragging rights.

* BraggingRightsReward: Submitting the seven correct answers will result in Nox Arcana sending the player a link to a special reward video. It's about a minute long and is just a bit of Halloween fun, but it pretty much constitutes this since you have to be ''very'' clever to get everything right. Those who succeed get their names added to the "[[https://noxarcana.com/grimstone-halloween.html account of the few brave souls]]" who earned the bragging rights.

* BraggingRightsReward: Submitting the seven correct answers will result in Nox Arcana sending the player a link to a special reward video. It's about a minute long and is just a bit of Halloween fun, but it pretty much constitutes this since you have to be ''very'' clever to get everything right.

!!Uncle Victor has the following tropes inside Grimstone Manor:

* BraggingRightsReward: Correctly submitting the seven correct answers will result in Nox Arcana sending the player a link to a special reward video. It's about a minute long and is just a bit of Halloween fun, but it pretty much constitutes this since you have to be ''very'' clever to get everything right.

* OnlySmartPeopleMayPass: Pretty much the whole point. Uncle Victor is only willing to leave Grimstone Manor and its mysterious contents to one who can correctly solve the puzzles he left.

In October 2020, it was announced on the game's [[https://www.facebook.com/DoctorArcana/posts/3685143588203422 Facebook page]] that a special installment, ''The Mystery of Grimstone Manor'', would be released for Halloween. In a similar plot to ''Arcana'', the player is locked inside a mysterious mansion on Halloween night and must solve the puzzles inside in order to claim their inheritance.

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* HalloweenEpisode: ''Grimstone Manor'' is this for players; it's just a special treat from Nox Arcana while they await the release of the full sequel.