| Alentejo: Tinto’s Law | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Loading Studios |
| Publisher | Teknamic Software |
| Director | Ivan Barroso |
| Designers | Ivan Barroso Vasco Oliveira |
| Programmer | Daniel Penão |
| Artist | Marta Vaz |
| Composer | Pankyonshii |
| Platforms | Game Boy,Web browser |
| Release | Web browser
|
| Genre | Action role-playing game |
| Mode | Single-player |
Alentejo: Tinto’s Law is a 2024action role-playing game developed by Loading Studios and published by Teknamic Software for theGame Boy and web browsers. The game is loosely inspired by the 1991RTP television seriesAlentejo Sem Lei [pt][1][2] and mid-1960sSpaghetti Western films.
The story follows Gildo, a mysterious newcomer to the village of Tinto, as he works to disrupt the illegal tinto (red wine) traffic in 19th-century Alentejo, Portugal. The Game Boy version marks the first commercial Portuguese-developed game released for the platform.[3][4][5]
Alentejo: Tinto’s Law is a single-playeraction role-playing game featuring narrative-driven gameplay with puzzle-solving elements.[6] The game is divided into two sections: an overworld, focusing on exploration and action challenges, and underground levels containing puzzles and collectible power-ups.
The narrative follows Gildo as he attempts to dismantle Baron Tinto’s control of the region’s red wine trade, centered around a newly constructed train station.[7] Players must gather resources, form alliances, and plan a train robbery to halt the operation.
Alentejo: Tinto’s Law was developed by a team from Loading Studios, previously known for The Fisherman: A Codefish Tale, winner of a 2023 PlayStation Talents award.[8][9] The team included Ivan Barroso (director), Vasco Oliveira (level designer), Daniel Penão (programmer), and Marta Vaz (artist), with music composed by Pankyonshii.[10] Marketing Art was provided by Martim Alves, with additional services by Tiago Colaço.[11] According to Vasco Oliveira, the game was created as a retro speculative design project—imagining what a Portuguese Game Boy title might have looked like in the 1990s, a period when none were actually developed.Alentejo: Tinto’s Law draws inspiration from popular films of the era, including the 20th-century Spaghetti Westerns, as well as the 1991 RTP television seriesAlentejo Sem Lei [pt].[12]
The game was released digitally in November 2024 for browsers and physically for the Game Boy via cartridge in February 2025 by Teknamic Software.[13]
Alentejo: Tinto’s Law received generally positive reviews, particularly for its story, puzzles, humor, and historical references to 19th-century Iberia.[14][15][12]Criticism focused mainly on the limited variety of music tracks and basic shooting mechanics.
At the 2024 Indie DB Indie of the Year Awards, the game was a finalist in the "Upcoming Games – Role-Playing" category.[16] It was also a finalist at the DevGamm Spotlight Awards ("Reveal of the Year") and won "Best National Game" at theGeeks d'Ouro [pt] awards.[17] In June 2025, the game was distinguished as a Runner-Up and won anHonorable Mention in the "Fnac Novos Talentos" contest in the "Videogames" category.[18]
In February 2025, Loading Studios announced a sequel titledAlentejo: The Tinto and The Ugly.[19][20][21]
