Impostor Factory

 PC
Impostor Factory Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 47 Ratings

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  • Summary: A bonkers time-loop tragicomedy murder mystery thriller featuring multiple casualties and a suspicious cat, from the creator of To the Moon & Finding Paradise.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. IGN Italia
    Oct 7, 2021
    93
    Yet another masterpiece by Kan Gao, probably the most solid and balanced overall. The story of Quincy and Lynri passes through regrets, remorse, fears and IF. Gao's writing is always impeccable and is capable of never falling into the banal, even when it touches themes already abused in the medium and in narration in general. So far my very personal best game of the year.
  2. RPG Fan
    Sep 30, 2021
    91
    Writing a review for games like this feels bizarre to me, because synthesizing the work down to a number honestly feels wrong. It’s akin to going into an art gallery and scoring each painting or sculpture, and while that seems like I’m laying the praise on a bit thick, I genuinely feel this way. Whenever I’ve been in a slump or felt lost, a good book or movie with something to say has always been the best prescription. Impostor Factory can be that antidote for those who need it. Thank you, Kan, and thank you, Freebird Games. You’ve created an outstanding trilogy, and I absolutely, unequivocally, cannot wait to see what you do next. You have a supporter for life.
  3. SpazioGames
    Oct 25, 2021
    81
    It’s really unfair assign a mark to this game. It’s unfair not because it’s a bad game, but because it’s complex and almost disrespectful to crush this work into a sterile number. A videogame that is also a “non-videogame”, and it knowingly turns this flaw into strength, telling us a love story that turns into a reflection upon reality and the nature of choosing, surrounding it with a beautiful painting done with pixels.
  4. Multiplayer.it
    Oct 7, 2021
    80
    Impostor Factory doesn't punch emotionally like To The Moon and Finding Paradise, but Kan Gao's and Freebird Games' skills are still intact.
  5. The Indie Game Website
    Oct 21, 2021
    80
    Freebird games have always been funny in a gentle way that doesn’t clash with the games’ tender yet challenging emotional core. In Impostor Factory, the team has taken a big swing by including full-on horror, as well as a complex meta-story involving the nature of science and time itself. And the humor is both slapstick and risky, letting players release tension as they explore the gore and mind-bending moral conundrums posed by the game’s story. The boxing cat and the sentient rice cooker are a welcome bonus.
  6. Eurogamer Italy
    Oct 8, 2021
    80
    Impostor Factory clearly shows the growth of its author. The topics dealt with may not fit everyone's tastes, just as we definitely feel the void left by the sparkling interactions between the two protagonists of the previous chapters; however, Kan Gao seems to have clear ideas about the direction his saga is taking, as well as an increasingly refined talent for causing emotional devastation to the players.
  7. New Game Network
    Oct 28, 2021
    67
    On its own, Impostor Factory is a decent adventure with occasionally interesting story elements and mostly enjoyable dialogue. But as part of the otherwise great series, it's a disappointing misstep.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Breikzer
    Oct 26, 2021
    10
    Freebird Games again brings us a fantastic story, it is incredible how they can make such emotional stories with such a limited technicalFreebird Games again brings us a fantastic story, it is incredible how they can make such emotional stories with such a limited technical section, they always make you see yourself immersed in their beautiful plots.

    This time the game is not so touching (well at least this time I did not cry, haha). But I can affirm that the narrative in how you are gradually discovering the story is the best of the series, from the moment you start the game you will not want to stop until you finish it. I definitely recommend it and I hope that Freebird continues to develop games in this series, which are very worthwhile.    … Expand
  2. Dimon210
    Oct 28, 2021
    10
    Шедевр.
    Кто-то говорит, что эта часть сдаёт по сравнению с предыдущими.
    Не соглашусь. Кто-то говорит, что концовка будет не совсем понятна    Шедевр.
    Кто-то говорит, что эта часть сдаёт по сравнению с предыдущими.
    Не соглашусь.
    Кто-то говорит, что концовка будет не совсем понятна новичкам, не игравшим в предыдущие части.
    Соглашусь.
    Но это можно решить таким образом: не проходите более поздние части игр до прохождения более ранних.
    Крайне рекомендую к покупке.

    Masterpiece.
    Some people say, this part is losing positions comparing with previous ones.
    I don't agree.
    Some people say, the ending won't be understood by newcomers, who haven't played previous games.
    I agree.
    This can be solved this way: don't play newer parts of games before playing previous ones.
    Highly recommended.    … Expand
  4. Krounder
    Nov 12, 2022
    10
    so touching (well at least this time I did not cry, haha). But I can affirm that the narrative in how you are gradually discovering the storyso touching (well at least this time I did not cry, haha). But I can affirm that the narrative in how you are gradually discovering the story is the best of the series, from the moment you start the game you will not want to stop until you finish it. I definitely recommend it and I hope that Freebird continues to develop games in this series, which are very worthwhi… Expand
  5. JurgenRamnball
    Oct 8, 2021
    9
    Since this game does a different proposal than the previous ones from the series, I decided to make this in a manual format on how to not getSince this game does a different proposal than the previous ones from the series, I decided to make this in a manual format on how to not get dissapointed with Impostor Factory, as it would be possible, because this game has two previous game to hold up to, and as mentioned before, it's different.
    Kan Gao said in an interview years ago that he wanted to make a psychological thriller, for marketing reasons, he decided to call it the Episode X of the To The Moon series. It's safe to say this game, for the sake of diversity, focuses more on mystery presentation and solution than the emotional appeal than To The Moon and Finding Paradise. That's how the game should be played, a mystery game with a drama background.
    It's not unfair to say that this game is what Final Fantasy XII means for the Final Fantasy series, different structure, but with tons of references to previous titles to make you feel familiar with.    … Expand
  6. DRainbow
    Feb 20, 2022
    8
    The writing in this series is insanely sharp, thought provoking and mindblowing. The music is as beautiful is as beautiful as ever and theThe writing in this series is insanely sharp, thought provoking and mindblowing. The music is as beautiful is as beautiful as ever and the story as confusing as ever. However, it isn't confusing because of story mistakes or plot holes, it's confusing because you take in a lot in a short amount of time. In the end you might sit there and wonder why you liked it as much as you did because you didn't even understand half of it. While I do miss the simpler storytelling of "To the Moon" this game deserves the praise it gets and I am excited to see where the series goes next, if anywhere.… Expand
  7. giannis2001
    Jan 6, 2022
    8
    Once again, an incredibly good and touching story driven game made by Freebird games. I highly recommend playing the other 2 games of theOnce again, an incredibly good and touching story driven game made by Freebird games. I highly recommend playing the other 2 games of the series so you can understand this one.… Expand
  8. My_Dad
    Oct 1, 2021
    5
    General Consensus: (SPOILERS) Impostor Factory starts out strong, with a characteristic gut-punch of emotion shifting the story into aGeneral Consensus: (SPOILERS) Impostor Factory starts out strong, with a characteristic gut-punch of emotion shifting the story into a beautiful, heartbreaking drama halfway through. However, instead of sticking the landing with already established characters, Kan Gao and his fellow creators opt for a soulless twist that renders the prior events of the story drastically weakened.

    (HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD)

    It's tough to criticize such an obvious labor of love from Freebird Games. I've been closely following their work since 2011, and consider Finding Paradise to be one of the best video games stories I've experienced. And while the music, endearing comedy, and grounded dialogue are all present in true Freebird fashion, I can't say I left the experience anywhere close to satisfied–especially considering the solipsistic implications created from the story's drastic shift in the third act.

    On a positive note, the game is made all the better by doing away with the puzzle/gameplay elements of its previous installments, choosing instead to dedicate all its runtime to storytelling. And what a story it was for the first two hours, where I considered the characters to be the most mature and compelling individuals Kan and co. have come up with. It wasn't shaping up to be as touching or inspiring as its predecessors, but the subject matter explored in Imposter Factory was definitely Freebird Games' most mature (and bleak) to date.

    Lynry and Quincy go through the wringer, and the absolutely gorgeous "A Reality Without Me" simply could not be played enough to underscore the tone of their challenged relationship. I was absolutely sold from the first hour of the story, finding myself crying multiple times as hit after hit came Linry and Quincy's way.

    It's a shame none of it is real.

    The story of the people we follow is nothing but the 9th simulated version of the lives of two people that existed in the REAL real world, and the interactions between the memory versions of Linry and Quincy (whose player avatar doesn't even know Linry), are nothing but shades of people playing out a fantasy orchestrated by Neill Watts (the real Linry's son) and his morally blank A.I. Faye, who now resembles an ominous HAL9000 rather than the sentimental subconscious of Colin from Finding Paradise.

    The game ends a whole hour before it should, opting to leave us on a bitter cliffhanger. Neill callously comments on the final image (Linry tucking baby Neill into bed) as a "supposed" perfect timeline, ripping us away from the potential of any real catharsis. The character operating the story (Neill) is the very one who is not even emotionally fazed by it. Where Johnny and Colin both learned important life lessons through their experiences in Sigmund Corp's tech (as well as communicating powerful themes to the audience), this story seems to go for, "we all could be in a simulation, but you should enjoy whatever you get while you can get it, but remember, all of it might not be real."

    I'm truly disappointed by this story, not because of the strength of its predecessors, but by the wasted potential of the powerful storytelling exhibited in its first two thirds.

    Hopefully the simulation path doesn't continue on with the following story, and we can return to a world where feelings and pain are very real, and submerging ourselves in a simulation is not the answer to all our problems.    … Expand

See all 12 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

83
#83 Best PC Game of 2021

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