In Marked, we aimed to delve deeply into the intersection of noir and Western by focusing on themes of justice as a scar and guilt in isolation. These themes became our narrative heartbeat, reflecting both the internal decay of noir and the harsh, unforgiving stakes of the Western frontier. Justice as a scar manifests through Ben Mercer’s physical marks—literal scars from his past that burn and sting as he hunts Hale’s killer, reminding him and the player that every pursuit of justice leaves a permanent wound, especially when Ben himself is a murderer hiding from his own past. This plays out in every one of the 16 narrative arcs, where each suspect’s motive—be it Clara’s greed for power or Tommy’s broken desperation—leaves its own scar on the town of Salvation’s Edge, mirrored in Ben’s internal dialogue and haunting dream sequences.