At first glance, it’s difficult to imagine the dark undertones hidden beneath the chipper veneer of Chicory: A Colorful Tale. You’re an incredibly earnest cartoon dog who’s named after the best kind of food—your favorite food, whatever that may be. You wield a magical brush that lets you smear pastel paint all over your surroundings, in a dizzying variety of hues and shades. You’re encouraged to explore the limits of your artistry, be it replicating a classic painting or decorating your humble abode with brand new furniture.

Like a kid who discovered the tantalizing potential of an unblemished white wall, you’re free to dip your stubby little fingers in paint and drench the environment in a kaleidoscope of colors and doodles.

Chicory’s arid landscapes are still troubling though. An inexplicable, perverse force has drained the world of all its colors, and there’s a sense that you’re just a bumbling pup figuring your way around things. Yet Chicory isn’t the sort of game that masquerades its cynicism as truisms, to be sprung at opportune moments. Instead it's wholeheartedly (and disarmingly) charming.

Folks you meet along the way marvel at your abilities as a Wielder, a revered artist tasked with maintaining the harmony of this world, regardless of what you produce. Often they request your aid. The monochromatic houses need a splash of color, and some folks have very specific requirements—like one who requests “tough-looking” colors, whatever those are. Families are trapped behind fallen boulders, a calamity compounded by the sudden loss of color in this world. A group of aspiring Wielders at art school seek your advice.

Everyone showers you with genuine, effusive encouragement, interpreting your efforts with enthusiasm and awe. Your work matters.

More than just an interactive coloring book, Chicory stuffs puzzles into the nooks of its world, with elements that respond to your brush strokes. Some plants expand and shrink when sprinkled with color, while others serve as springboards to higher ground. Obstacles can be smashed with an explosive splash of paint. Some puzzles require you to paint in entire scenes, turning landscapes into prismatic works of watercolor. Your brush even unlocks specific abilities, allowing you to gain access to new paths as your adventure continues.

There are also a bevy of collectibles to hoard, such as lost kittens that hide amongst trees and bushes. Nifty outfits are tucked away in boxes, strewn across the world. New brush styles enable you to prod at the blank canvas in new ways.

But perhaps what’s most interesting about Chicory is that you don’t have to commit to these tasks if you don’t want to. This is a game that thrives on your whims, allowing you to bask in the joy of forging your own path through self-expression. Paint the landscapes if you like. Uncover and gather more collectibles if it pleases you. Color within the outlines of buildings carefully—or not at all.

Even if you doubt your artistic inclinations, Chicory encourages you to give art a shot, one brush stroke at a time.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale is available on the Epic Games Store.