Full video review: https://youtu.be/r6f_be_5oEU
This game is a lot. The core is a deckbuilding card battler, but there are elements of action roguelike, escape room puzzle, full motion video, and of course, psychological horror. Sounds like a mess, but it is by far one of the most unique games I have played this year.
Gameplay:
Starting with the deckbuilding, which is kind of simple on the surface. You get your HP value, your attack value, your cost, and then any number of bonus effects. The bonus effects are where it gets more complex though, as some cards may attack in multiple directions, some may be sent back to your hand on death, and some may be able to attack over others. There are a LOT of these different abilities and the game provides a handy rulebook that can be accessed at any time to get a description of each.
Aiding these cards are your various items, your totem, and permanent upgrades you find along the way. Each battle is its own thing, but the map is this large, connected web of random events and other encounters that add even more layers to the seemingly simple combat. Because that’s the thing here – you’ll find that “simple on the surface” is a recurring theme in the game and the actual gameplay is far, far more complex than that.
Once you start getting into more advanced cards, you’ll find that there are synergies for literally everything. Items, cards, totems, even stuff OUTSIDE of the card battles themselves. Because yes, the card battles are only part of the experience here – you are able to stand up and walk around between battles and mess with stuff scattered about the room. Your goal is ultimately to escape this room, but several items contained within it can help you out in the battles. It is an excellent combo that makes the game more than just “another deckbuilder”.
As with other roguelikes, there is a lot of fun to be had in figuring out how to best break the game. Coming up with the most busted card combos and item synergies is easily one of my favorite things about it and there are a ton of tools to aid in this experience. The game knows that breaking it open is the fun part about it and doesn’t throw up as many roadblocks like some other roguelikes tend to do.
Length & Story:
All of the screenshots and marketing for this game just show PART ONE - there is a lot more to the game than just that. I won’t go in-depth due to spoilers, but let’s just say that once you reach the point of the story where you’re watching an FMV of a guy opening card packs – the game is going places. The kinds of places where I literally made a copy of my save file outside of the installation folder out of fear – that’s all I’ll say about that.
There is a larger story here connected to the whole escape room aspect and that too is handled brilliantly. Just the right amount of suspense, just the right amount of gameplay-story balance, just the right amount of “what is going on?” – it’s got it all on lock. So much so that I hardly noticed nine hours passing – the amount of time it took me to reach the credits.
Graphics & Music:
The graphics are what originally drew me to the game and for good reason – they look fantastic. It’s got this dark, pixel-like aesthetic where you can’t even see the face of your opponent, just his eyes. Combine that with the creepy sound design and music – especially during boss fights – and you got quite the little package here.
Performance:
I ran the game capped out at 1440p 144fps with no drops, no stutters, no bugs, it was polished all the way through. Controls are also fine. I mean, it’s kinda hard to mess up point-and-click and WASD to move, but here I am talking about it anyways.
Overall:
Inscryption is one of the most unique games of the year and easily one of the best card battlers I have ever played. From the many different layers of card and item synergies to the creepy escape room-style puzzles and story, it is one of the few games where I hardly noticed nine hours passing by. There is a lot to unpack in this little indie experience and I would 100% recommend going into it without doing too much research.
This game is a lot. The core is a deckbuilding card battler, but there are elements of action roguelike, escape room puzzle, full motion video, and of course, psychological horror. Sounds like a mess, but it is by far one of the most unique games I have played this year.
Gameplay:
Starting with the deckbuilding, which is kind of simple on the surface. You get your HP value, your attack value, your cost, and then any number of bonus effects. The bonus effects are where it gets more complex though, as some cards may attack in multiple directions, some may be sent back to your hand on death, and some may be able to attack over others. There are a LOT of these different abilities and the game provides a handy rulebook that can be accessed at any time to get a description of each.
Aiding these cards are your various items, your totem, and permanent upgrades you find along the way. Each battle is its own thing, but the map is this large, connected web of random events and other encounters that add even more layers to the seemingly simple combat. Because that’s the thing here – you’ll find that “simple on the surface” is a recurring theme in the game and the actual gameplay is far, far more complex than that.
Once you start getting into more advanced cards, you’ll find that there are synergies for literally everything. Items, cards, totems, even stuff OUTSIDE of the card battles themselves. Because yes, the card battles are only part of the experience here – you are able to stand up and walk around between battles and mess with stuff scattered about the room. Your goal is ultimately to escape this room, but several items contained within it can help you out in the battles. It is an excellent combo that makes the game more than just “another deckbuilder”.
As with other roguelikes, there is a lot of fun to be had in figuring out how to best break the game. Coming up with the most busted card combos and item synergies is easily one of my favorite things about it and there are a ton of tools to aid in this experience. The game knows that breaking it open is the fun part about it and doesn’t throw up as many roadblocks like some other roguelikes tend to do.
Length & Story:
All of the screenshots and marketing for this game just show PART ONE - there is a lot more to the game than just that. I won’t go in-depth due to spoilers, but let’s just say that once you reach the point of the story where you’re watching an FMV of a guy opening card packs – the game is going places. The kinds of places where I literally made a copy of my save file outside of the installation folder out of fear – that’s all I’ll say about that.
There is a larger story here connected to the whole escape room aspect and that too is handled brilliantly. Just the right amount of suspense, just the right amount of gameplay-story balance, just the right amount of “what is going on?” – it’s got it all on lock. So much so that I hardly noticed nine hours passing – the amount of time it took me to reach the credits.
Graphics & Music:
The graphics are what originally drew me to the game and for good reason – they look fantastic. It’s got this dark, pixel-like aesthetic where you can’t even see the face of your opponent, just his eyes. Combine that with the creepy sound design and music – especially during boss fights – and you got quite the little package here.
Performance:
I ran the game capped out at 1440p 144fps with no drops, no stutters, no bugs, it was polished all the way through. Controls are also fine. I mean, it’s kinda hard to mess up point-and-click and WASD to move, but here I am talking about it anyways.
Overall:
Inscryption is one of the most unique games of the year and easily one of the best card battlers I have ever played. From the many different layers of card and item synergies to the creepy escape room-style puzzles and story, it is one of the few games where I hardly noticed nine hours passing by. There is a lot to unpack in this little indie experience and I would 100% recommend going into it without doing too much research.
Inscryption is a rougelike deckbuilder by the Pony Island dev in which the Pony Island dev asks themself "What if I made a rougelike deckbuilder by the Pony Island dev". And yeah, the most concise way to summarize it is that it's a singleplayer deckbuilder by the Pony Island dev. Did I forget rougelike in that last sentence? No, but the game does indeed contain a rougelike deckbuilder tho, just don't go into it if that's all that you're expecting.
The "game by the Pony Island dev"ness is definitely as cheesy as ever, and some of it's antics are definitely like "Really, this shit now?", tho the game does start off with a pretty foreboding atmosphere for a bit. The game is a bit easy but engaging enough (took 5 runs to beat the rougelike), new mechanics are introduced and re-contextualized as you go through. But overall what I'm trying to say with all this is that you know what you're getting into. I thought it was cute, and that's about all it had to be. It's not much more, and it's not much less.
The "game by the Pony Island dev"ness is definitely as cheesy as ever, and some of it's antics are definitely like "Really, this shit now?", tho the game does start off with a pretty foreboding atmosphere for a bit. The game is a bit easy but engaging enough (took 5 runs to beat the rougelike), new mechanics are introduced and re-contextualized as you go through. But overall what I'm trying to say with all this is that you know what you're getting into. I thought it was cute, and that's about all it had to be. It's not much more, and it's not much less.
This game is so much more than a deckbuilder. Insctyption is a lot of things, and all those things are good things.
Pretty cool experience, the less you know the better.
Pretty cool experience, the less you know the better.
Holy. Shit. I bought this thinking it was just going to be a very well made roguelike. I did NOT sign up for this ride, but I still held on for dear life.
A very fun card game with a hidden twist.
Playing this spooky game will have you soon realize that it has quite a bit more to it than you'd expect at first....
And for this I feel that I should give a warning to other players:
When at some point you feel that you're about to do something very important, you should realize that the game is about to get a whole lot different.
So only go through with it if you are ready to for that!
Because I did this big event at a point where I really did not want to experience the BIG change that would occur and it left me wanting to go back for the rest of the game.
-Act 1 was by far my favorite, since this was what I signed up for.
-Act 2 felt like a very different game and I never enjoyed it as much, serviceable though.
-Act 3 felt more like Act 1 but it did not interest me as much but got progressively better.
Overall I do like the game even though I do wish they would let you go back to previous Acts whenever you wanted, much like in the post-game.
Playing this spooky game will have you soon realize that it has quite a bit more to it than you'd expect at first....
And for this I feel that I should give a warning to other players:
When at some point you feel that you're about to do something very important, you should realize that the game is about to get a whole lot different.
So only go through with it if you are ready to for that!
Because I did this big event at a point where I really did not want to experience the BIG change that would occur and it left me wanting to go back for the rest of the game.
-Act 1 was by far my favorite, since this was what I signed up for.
-Act 2 felt like a very different game and I never enjoyed it as much, serviceable though.
-Act 3 felt more like Act 1 but it did not interest me as much but got progressively better.
Overall I do like the game even though I do wish they would let you go back to previous Acts whenever you wanted, much like in the post-game.
Not a game, an experience. Absolutely incredible and unforgettable. This game is from the pony island dev, so take everything you read with a grain of salt.
There is one part of the game that REALLY bummed me out because it was so different. I pushed past it though. Despite it never reaching the same heights as the beginning, it won me back. I was sold on this game with the presentation and it did not disappoint. The card based gameplay was mostly fun and not too complex. Lots of things happen along the way that keeps the game interesting. Card games and roguelikes are two things I'm very averse to, but this game exceeded my expectations.
This game is a narrative adventure first, card game second. It never stops being a card battler at its core, but do consider that the story takes main focus here all throughout until the very end. If you've played some of Daniel Mullins' previous games you already know what to expect.
The card battling systems gets increasingly more complex the further you get into the game, and not only does it get harder but also it gets easier to exploit (pretty fun if you're into that stuff). Don't be afraid to experiment with your deckbuilding, especially past the first part of the game.
The story is good but I wouldn't say great, there's some good moments especially near the end but it does feel a bit too creepypasta-esque at times. Not my cup of tea but I didn't dislike it necessarily.
Overall it's a pretty solid game. I'll gladly keep supporting Daniel Mullins in his efforts to break the boundaries of videogames and deliver solid releases that feel fresh and fun to play.
The card battling systems gets increasingly more complex the further you get into the game, and not only does it get harder but also it gets easier to exploit (pretty fun if you're into that stuff). Don't be afraid to experiment with your deckbuilding, especially past the first part of the game.
The story is good but I wouldn't say great, there's some good moments especially near the end but it does feel a bit too creepypasta-esque at times. Not my cup of tea but I didn't dislike it necessarily.
Overall it's a pretty solid game. I'll gladly keep supporting Daniel Mullins in his efforts to break the boundaries of videogames and deliver solid releases that feel fresh and fun to play.
Card game that plays with you. You just have to play it. Do it.
And then play it again.
And then play it again.
I don't like deck builder games. I didn't like Inscryption. I persevered with it because I loved the vibe and loved Pony Island, but I found the first hour or so really slow. Like, being awful at the card stuff felt like it was actively preventing me from getting into the other, more interesting aspects of the game.
Turns out, this was all part of the plan. Slowly but surely Inscryption begins to reveal itself and, in the process of doing so, masterfully teaches you the rules of the card game that make up the backbone of it and, crucially, how to break them.
At first I thought Inscryption's greatest achievement was getting me, the card game disliker, to really enjoy and engage with deeper mechanics in a deck builder game. What it actually achieved is leaving me sat here, post-credits, genuinely not sure where the game ends and where real life begins.
Turns out, this was all part of the plan. Slowly but surely Inscryption begins to reveal itself and, in the process of doing so, masterfully teaches you the rules of the card game that make up the backbone of it and, crucially, how to break them.
At first I thought Inscryption's greatest achievement was getting me, the card game disliker, to really enjoy and engage with deeper mechanics in a deck builder game. What it actually achieved is leaving me sat here, post-credits, genuinely not sure where the game ends and where real life begins.
a little long near the end and i wish one specific gameplay mechanic was used more, but otherwise another great game from daniel mullins (and others ofc!!)
Incredibly unsuspecting, shifts and morphs, reveals mind-blowing revelations and the layers are akin to peeling back an onion piece by piece at times. Go in blind, you won't regret it.
So effective as a horror game it tricked me into playing a roguelite deckbuilder.
This review contains spoilers
The creativity and twists and turns make it a wonderful experience. Some pacing issues lessened the experience for me but the amount of times this game wowed me gives me a lot of appreciation for it. Not GOTY tho
This review contains spoilers
Como juego de cartas es uno de los más divertidos que he jugado. Se combinan muchas mecánicas de los juegos tanto tradicionales como online, y se nota que el creador ha tenido su buena dosis de bagaje y de referencias curiosas. La historia en principio está bien, con un inicio que parece ir a más y en crescendo, pero hay dos problemas que aguan completamente este indie: por un lado, la parte del Youtuber y el contenido meta me encajan relativamente poco tal y como está concebido y, segundo, creo que la parte final me ha decepcionado muchísimo, yendo demasiado a lo pastiche y con unos personajes los cuales salvo Leshy decepcionan muchísimo por lo poco que aparecen y lo poco carismáticos. Creo que como videojuego cumple, pero la suma de las partes lastra el todo, en especial un final que creo que le hace un flaco favor.
This review contains spoilers
Based on how the game is put together, how much of the game is shown generally and all the 4th wall meta narrative stuff it's basically impossible to properly talk about the game without spoilers so here we go.
Essentially the game changes gameplay radically twice, making up three acts with each act basically being a different game, so that's how I'll talk about the game. Act One is the act most people are familliar with because it's what sells you on the game in the gameplay trailers and other media. It is also the strongest of the three acts in pretty much every category. Atmosphere, visuals, gameplay, it's all cool and good. Main issue I had with it is that it felt too easy and if you're good/lucky this act can end quick. I finished this act in 6-7 tries with two victories so idunno.
Act Two throws everything out of the window and really takes the winds out of the sails of the game. Gone are the roguelikes and escape room elements and the graphics/atmosphere of the first act. This act I believe is emulating GBC trading card games with being a straight deck builder with a specific style of 2D graphics. This act is straight up bad with how many poorly fleshed out mechanics there are and how obnoxious deck building is because of it. I think this part of the game being bad is intentional because it fits the game's narrative but I couldn't be arsed to care.
Act Three is a melding of the two previous acts. Roguelike elements are still gone but the escape room stuff is back and the mechanics from act two are either removed or more refined here. It feels like it's trying to right the ship after a shoddy second act but for me it felt like that ship had sailed. At the very least, the bosses have goofy gimmicks that you'd expect from the Pony Island developer. After you beat those bosses though, there's no true final boss and the game just goes through the motions before being completed.
So overall I think the game is good and I enjoyed myself, but I do believe the meta stuff kind of got in the way. It's not executed terribly or anything (in fact I feel the opposite) but if the game was just Act One but more fleshed out I think it'd be better than what we got here.
Essentially the game changes gameplay radically twice, making up three acts with each act basically being a different game, so that's how I'll talk about the game. Act One is the act most people are familliar with because it's what sells you on the game in the gameplay trailers and other media. It is also the strongest of the three acts in pretty much every category. Atmosphere, visuals, gameplay, it's all cool and good. Main issue I had with it is that it felt too easy and if you're good/lucky this act can end quick. I finished this act in 6-7 tries with two victories so idunno.
Act Two throws everything out of the window and really takes the winds out of the sails of the game. Gone are the roguelikes and escape room elements and the graphics/atmosphere of the first act. This act I believe is emulating GBC trading card games with being a straight deck builder with a specific style of 2D graphics. This act is straight up bad with how many poorly fleshed out mechanics there are and how obnoxious deck building is because of it. I think this part of the game being bad is intentional because it fits the game's narrative but I couldn't be arsed to care.
Act Three is a melding of the two previous acts. Roguelike elements are still gone but the escape room stuff is back and the mechanics from act two are either removed or more refined here. It feels like it's trying to right the ship after a shoddy second act but for me it felt like that ship had sailed. At the very least, the bosses have goofy gimmicks that you'd expect from the Pony Island developer. After you beat those bosses though, there's no true final boss and the game just goes through the motions before being completed.
So overall I think the game is good and I enjoyed myself, but I do believe the meta stuff kind of got in the way. It's not executed terribly or anything (in fact I feel the opposite) but if the game was just Act One but more fleshed out I think it'd be better than what we got here.
After playing the Hex, I was pretty eager to see what new and unusual mechanics Inscryption would bring to the table. This certainly is intended to be a sequel to the Hex, albeit with less variation in the gameplay.
Those who didn't play Daniel Mullins other two games may find the change in style between each part may difficult to adjust to, though anyone who enjoyed his previous work will definitely enjoy the way this game constantly changes.
The card mechanic system was surprisingly thorough, so much to the point that I wish it was a separate gamemode to play freely after the main story.
Brilliantly designed and pretty fun to play.
Those who didn't play Daniel Mullins other two games may find the change in style between each part may difficult to adjust to, though anyone who enjoyed his previous work will definitely enjoy the way this game constantly changes.
The card mechanic system was surprisingly thorough, so much to the point that I wish it was a separate gamemode to play freely after the main story.
Brilliantly designed and pretty fun to play.
1/3 what I actually wanted and expected from the marketing
2/3 completely unexpected ARG stuff that didn't feel as good or interest me as much as the first part.
I guess I should have looked up the developer before trying it, but if you want a full horror card game, this ain't it.
2/3 completely unexpected ARG stuff that didn't feel as good or interest me as much as the first part.
I guess I should have looked up the developer before trying it, but if you want a full horror card game, this ain't it.
Un poco lo mismo de siempre de Daniel pero cada vez un poquito mejor. Las gimmicks "meta" de este juego son las mejores que he visto.
Possibly my GOTY for this year. A really wonderful card game that drastically changes multiple times throughout the game. The game's art style and design also drastically changes. A really unique experience. 10/20 Achievements.
Personal 2021 GOTY. Don't want to leave any details due to the nature of the game, but i do wish i could play it even more than i have.
Despite some flaws with the meta story and the difficulty at the start of the 3rd act. I loved the experience of playing this game. Possibly my GOTY.
Wow, what a game.
I have never played a game from Daniel Mullins before, but now I want to complete them all.
The less you know about this game, the better, get off here and play it yourself. Although I share the opinion that the beginning of the experience is the game's strongest part, I wouldn't want to miss out on anything that comes after. It blew my mind in a few instances and bursts of creativity towards the end to a degree, that I genuinely questioned whether I was high or not.
Go in without any preconceptions and just tag along the admittedly incredibly wild and varied ride. For me this might be one of the best games to release this year and as it is, I would replay it immediately if I had the time. That appreciation is what lets me overlook anything I initially didn't like as much while playing.
It's incredibly competent and a visual treat, bursting of ambition and creativity. Let this be my personal love letter to this game. I won't even get into how good and smooth it feels to play, it's astounding.
PS: If it ever gets too frustrating you can always reload just before the losing state and just restart right before the encounter. The game saves automatically every time before you enter one, it works on bosses as well and I'm pretty sure it's intentional that it is possible. Just leaving that here so no one has to suffer to see this incredible experience through to the end ;)
I have never played a game from Daniel Mullins before, but now I want to complete them all.
The less you know about this game, the better, get off here and play it yourself. Although I share the opinion that the beginning of the experience is the game's strongest part, I wouldn't want to miss out on anything that comes after. It blew my mind in a few instances and bursts of creativity towards the end to a degree, that I genuinely questioned whether I was high or not.
Go in without any preconceptions and just tag along the admittedly incredibly wild and varied ride. For me this might be one of the best games to release this year and as it is, I would replay it immediately if I had the time. That appreciation is what lets me overlook anything I initially didn't like as much while playing.
It's incredibly competent and a visual treat, bursting of ambition and creativity. Let this be my personal love letter to this game. I won't even get into how good and smooth it feels to play, it's astounding.
PS: If it ever gets too frustrating you can always reload just before the losing state and just restart right before the encounter. The game saves automatically every time before you enter one, it works on bosses as well and I'm pretty sure it's intentional that it is possible. Just leaving that here so no one has to suffer to see this incredible experience through to the end ;)
Inscryption is one of the best gaming experiences I've had in recent memory.
Inscryption is also best experienced completely blind (I wouldn't recommend watching the trailer either). I can't go into detail about this game so I don't give anything away, but if you're on the store page right now, i urge you to buy the game and play it all the way through. You will not regret it.
If you really want to try before you buy, try the demo instead of watching the trailer.
Inscryption is also best experienced completely blind (I wouldn't recommend watching the trailer either). I can't go into detail about this game so I don't give anything away, but if you're on the store page right now, i urge you to buy the game and play it all the way through. You will not regret it.
If you really want to try before you buy, try the demo instead of watching the trailer.
been a while since a game made me say What The Fuck? this much. But in a good way!
It's one of those games where it's really hard to talk about it without walking into spoilers so I'll keep it up. It's a trip of a game that's gonna throw you for a loop multiple times without actually sacrificing gameplay; the card game goes through a lot of changes as you go through the game and I enjoyed every interation of it. At times it's the closest you'll get to the return of the single player TCGS ,like the gameboy PTCG, which don't really exist anymore do they?
Highly recommened, probably one of my favorite games of this year. Hope someone enjoyed my 0 mana 3/1 brittle/resurrection/flyer !
It's one of those games where it's really hard to talk about it without walking into spoilers so I'll keep it up. It's a trip of a game that's gonna throw you for a loop multiple times without actually sacrificing gameplay; the card game goes through a lot of changes as you go through the game and I enjoyed every interation of it. At times it's the closest you'll get to the return of the single player TCGS ,like the gameboy PTCG, which don't really exist anymore do they?
Highly recommened, probably one of my favorite games of this year. Hope someone enjoyed my 0 mana 3/1 brittle/resurrection/flyer !
Sin gustarme los juegos de cartas, este me ha tenido 2 días enganchado hasta completarlo al 100%. Hacía mucho que no veía un juego con tanta identidad como Inscryption; el diseño de sonido es una locura, los gráficos le sientan de lujo, hasta la forma en la que se mueve la cámara está hecha con buen gusto.
En cuanto a la jugabilidad, el juego no para de añadir nuevas mecánicas sin que llegue a ser abrumador, ya que lo introduce todo a buen ritmo y bien explicado.
No se puede hablar mucho más sin llegar al terreno spoiler, pero es un juego que, aunque en lo personal me gusta más el inicio, no para de sumar cada cosa que hace, siempre sabe sorprenderte.
En cuanto a la jugabilidad, el juego no para de añadir nuevas mecánicas sin que llegue a ser abrumador, ya que lo introduce todo a buen ritmo y bien explicado.
No se puede hablar mucho más sin llegar al terreno spoiler, pero es un juego que, aunque en lo personal me gusta más el inicio, no para de sumar cada cosa que hace, siempre sabe sorprenderte.
This review contains spoilers
I don't know what to say. At first i felt a bit cheated out of something i really wanted to play, but regardless of how disappointed i was after the switcheroo, the later parts of the game, the ending, well, they were pretty cool.
I still dislike the youtuber framing though.
I still dislike the youtuber framing though.
Really a love letter to TCG video games under the guise of a horror experience. It covers so many specific aspects of the TCG experience from Pokemon to Yugioh to Hearthstone that felt really rewarding as a fan of the genre. One section was a bit too long and some of the mechanics could have been fleshed out a bit more but otherwise really good game. I'm really hoping there's some DLC that expands on the base rogue-like gameplay.
Incredibly unique and refreshing experience, and I wholly recommend it, even if you're not necessarily a fan of card-based combat, or deck-builder rouge lites. Learning to play the card game becomes so fun, and every battle is clever, and challenging. It's awesome to stick to certain cards or strategies as you find out if you're more offensive, or defensive. The game's aesthetic is impeccable, and its creepy style is unforgettable. It also has a very interesting story, and the game absolutely takes you places you do not expect. Again, the whole experience is unique, and I wish I saw more games do what this did. Truly wonderful, and a perfect Halloween game.
You HAVE to try the unkillable warren + unkillable black goat combo. Trust me