What’s better than playing a sci-fi video game steeped in mythology that offers a mind-bending, time-traversing narrative?

I had the pleasure of proofing more than 100,000 words of a mobile action roleplaying game (RPG) last summer. My role, as freelance editor, was to comb through all possible text choices, reviewing the translated (from Chinese) text, localizing it so that the phrasing sounds natural to native English speakers, and ensuring consistency from line to line.

The game is called Black Beacon, and here’s the official description:

Upon the arrival of the Seer, a prophet foretold in ancient prophecies, the mysterious black monolith known as the Beacon activates, triggering anomalies beyond comprehension at the Tower of Babel.

These anomalies are far more than mere myths; within them lie hidden truths waiting to be uncovered.

Join forces with your comrades as you embark on a journey to unravel the secrets behind these catastrophic events and save humanity from impending disaster. Your choices will shape the fate of the world and echo through the ages.

Are you ready to seek the truth?

The truth is that this game’s story is far more sophisticated than your average mobile RPG. History blends with imagination, and I had a lot of fun getting to know these characters—especially a particular pair of precocious twins.

Black Beacon launched a couple of months ago. I confess I haven’t found the time to play it yet. Honestly, having proofed the first handful of chapters—twice!—my curiosity to try out the game mechanics are eclipsed by my distinct memory of the plot.

However, I’m delighted to see that the game is getting some good reviews out of the gate. And when I read things like “The worldbuilding and story are captivating, and the character writing shows a lot of heart,” I can’t help but smile, knowing that my work helped to preserve the writers’ vision.

Which is what every editor ought to do.

You can download Black Beacon for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store: