The Banshees of Inisherin retold as an 8-bit game

Cogs & Marvel has released a new in-browser maze game inspired by the film in time for St Patrick’s Day

Graphic shows the title screen for the Banshees of Inisherin game, featuring the title 'Banshees the Game' and illustrations of the two main characters

A new 8-bit game is drawing inspiration from Martin McDonagh’s film the Banshees of Inisherin, which follows the belligerent Colm and the disintegration of his friendship with Pádraic, who isn’t willing to give up on their relationship.

The Pacman-style game revolves around a maze. The player takes on the role of Colm, who, just like in the film, is trying to dodge his former friend, Pádraic. More enemies are introduced with each level, where Colm has to escape other characters drawn from the film, including Barry Keoghan’s “local gobshite” Dominic, and the local garda (police officer). If Pádraic catches you, Colm delivers one of his savage put-downs: “I don’t like you no more.”

It’s a simple premise but the team have managed to squeeze charming details into the 8-bit format, from Celtic typefaces to Colin Farrell’s instantly recognisable eyebrows.

Graphic shows the maze layout of the Banshees of Inisherin game, featuring green hedgerows and an illustration of a pub at the centre

The project was devised by Cogs & Marvel, an experiential agency headquartered in Dublin, which was keen to take on the challenge of distilling a “complex story in the simplest narrative form”, according to creative director Jon Hozier-Byrne.

“St Patrick’s Day, like the film which inspired us, is an exploration of Irish socio-cultural identity. For one day a year, political and historical baggage is cast aside, leaving only bright green hats and drinking. We wanted to apply the same kind of dramatic over-simplification to such rich cultural material.

“There was something really fun about taking such a dark, atmospheric piece of storytelling and representing it through the saturated optics of retro gaming. That juxtaposition is very entertaining to me,” Hozier-Byrne added.

bansheesthegame.com