Inscryption

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 330 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 272 out of 330
  2. Mixed: 41 out of 330
  3. Negative: 17 out of 330

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  1. Jeabus
    Oct 27, 2021
    6
    I can only describe this as too many similar ideas crammed into a relatively short game and a pretentious developer who feels the need to cram really bad and unnecessary "meta" nonsense into the game. It constantly detracts from the good core concepts at every turn.

    It feels like a bait-and-switch from how severe it contrasts with itself and it's identity crisis.
  2. folmas
    Nov 19, 2021
    6
    mechanics are not very unique, the atmosphere is maintained normally, but it gets boring quickly
  3. Surio89
    Feb 12, 2022
    6
    A masterpiece for setting, atmosphere and gameplay in the first part. The roguelike component combines perfectly with the dark atmosphere and the escape room puzzles making it impossible for the user to get bored. The card game is interesting and really well balanced. If the game had ended after the first few hours I would have assigned a score of 10. Unfortunately the second part losesA masterpiece for setting, atmosphere and gameplay in the first part. The roguelike component combines perfectly with the dark atmosphere and the escape room puzzles making it impossible for the user to get bored. The card game is interesting and really well balanced. If the game had ended after the first few hours I would have assigned a score of 10. Unfortunately the second part loses considerably in terms of atmosphere. The card game is much less balanced and I found it difficult to lose a match. This combined with the extreme length of very similar game sequences made everything less challenging. Also in my opinion the plot that initially seems very intriguing and inspires curiosity leaves too many questions unanswered, making you lose the desire to proceed. The ending left me very disappointed because it doesn't give elements to connect the dots and understand what has been done throughout the entire game.… Expand
  4. catowav650
    Mar 23, 2022
    6
    It's more than a little bit tragic. Daniel Mullins has always been an engaging storyteller, but the gameplay in his games was never something to write home about. Prior to Inscryption, I would have broadly defined a Daniel Mullins game as a twisty narrative that uses thin gameplay to take us from one story beat to another, to great effect. With Inscryption, Mullins has finally developedIt's more than a little bit tragic. Daniel Mullins has always been an engaging storyteller, but the gameplay in his games was never something to write home about. Prior to Inscryption, I would have broadly defined a Daniel Mullins game as a twisty narrative that uses thin gameplay to take us from one story beat to another, to great effect. With Inscryption, Mullins has finally developed some incredible gameplay, but the narrative is really, really poor and comes to sabotage the very gameplay that might have made it tolerable. I won't spoil Acts 2 and 3 except to say that they well and truly suck in the gameplay department, to an extent that any narrative would struggle to salvage. But the narrative in Inscryption isn't just mediocre compared to Mullins' other works. It's really, really poor. Where Pony Island and The Hex did a lot with a little, Inscryption struggle to do a little with a heck of a lot.… Expand
  5. Xunkar
    Dec 23, 2022
    6
    No idea why this game is so popular. The first part is really good: solid card gameplay, great ambiance, and amazing visual design. In the second part however, the mechanics are far less enjoyable. Deck building becomes tedious and the number of new mechanics dropped on the player at once is tough. It wouldn't be such a big issue if the story actually went somewhere instead of trying tooNo idea why this game is so popular. The first part is really good: solid card gameplay, great ambiance, and amazing visual design. In the second part however, the mechanics are far less enjoyable. Deck building becomes tedious and the number of new mechanics dropped on the player at once is tough. It wouldn't be such a big issue if the story actually went somewhere instead of trying too hard to be meta.

    Third part was better, but the more linear progression, coupled with no deck thinning options in the beginning, made some fights frustrating. At least it had some very good twists to keep the player entertained. All in all, the game is worth playing, but I do not see it deserving the incredible praise I've read here and there.    … Expand
  6. Sai37
    Dec 25, 2022
    5
    It is impossible to tear myself away from the first part of the game, but in the second the mechanics become so annoying that I simply could not continue playing.
  7. MindWanderer
    Aug 31, 2023
    5
    As you play this game, you discover that there's a deep rabbit hole of secrets hidden behind the initial card game. But when you follow that rabbit hole all the way to the credits... there's nothing. You have to solve an insanely complicated ARG to get answers to most of the questions you may have at that point, or, more likely, watch a video that explains it all. And even then there are aAs you play this game, you discover that there's a deep rabbit hole of secrets hidden behind the initial card game. But when you follow that rabbit hole all the way to the credits... there's nothing. You have to solve an insanely complicated ARG to get answers to most of the questions you may have at that point, or, more likely, watch a video that explains it all. And even then there are a lot of questions left, and a lot of mysteries that don't make sense.

    I adored the conceit of this, and I enjoyed following the path while it went. But when it went nowhere, I felt like the whole thing was a colossal waste of time. Such great ideas, so much promise, so little payoff.    … Expand
  8. Ayvaza
    Aug 11, 2022
    5
    unique game mechanics made this game super interesting, i loved the first part of the game, it was fun and nice to explore. the story was also awesome and i was expecting to see more of the same thing... however, after you defeat the first boss, the second stage turns into a 16bit game, the game gets cryptic, adds bunch of new game mechanics and explains almost nothing. it was already hardunique game mechanics made this game super interesting, i loved the first part of the game, it was fun and nice to explore. the story was also awesome and i was expecting to see more of the same thing... however, after you defeat the first boss, the second stage turns into a 16bit game, the game gets cryptic, adds bunch of new game mechanics and explains almost nothing. it was already hard enough for me to enjoy an indie game, and they seriously dropped the quality by 95% and turned the whole game into Pokemon red/blue from the 90s. i have also looked a bit on the net and it looks like it gets even worse after the 2nd part is done. i was trying to get a refund but was already over the 2h playtime mark.
    i would suggest that everyone should first check a quick review of the full game before buying it, dont expect anything big.    … Expand
  9. Bushido95
    Feb 10, 2022
    5
    Прошел игру за вечер 1 акт великолепен и я был в полном восторге, но дальше начинается претенциозность и уныние.
  10. StarkAgentos
    Mar 22, 2022
    5
    Поиграл 1 час. Карточные видеоигры не люблю. Геймплей немного завлёк, но игра слишком сложная. Никак не могу пройти один отрывок и бесконечно проигрываю.
  11. mapica3901
    Dec 14, 2021
    5
    Inscryption's first arc is 10/10. It's the best gameplay that the genre has ever seen delivered alongside a story with plenty of momentum and mystery. The ensuing arcs drop the ball so hard that almost all the goodwill built up over the first arc is lost. What went wrong? The best-in-class gameplay was pretty much completely sacrificed in service of a story that went off the rails in aInscryption's first arc is 10/10. It's the best gameplay that the genre has ever seen delivered alongside a story with plenty of momentum and mystery. The ensuing arcs drop the ball so hard that almost all the goodwill built up over the first arc is lost. What went wrong? The best-in-class gameplay was pretty much completely sacrificed in service of a story that went off the rails in a painfully predictable Daniel-Mullins-navel-gazing fashion. Daniel Mullins is clearly capable of making a good game, but not quite capable of making a good game ABOUT games.… Expand
  12. Ratingss
    May 1, 2023
    4
    Interesting card game but not very deep and you get railroaded into impossible matches that will have you restarting all over
  13. MarcPetersJr
    Oct 29, 2021
    4
    THIS IS NOT A ROGUELIKE!
    Don't get scammed and anticipate the next Slay the Spire!
    What it is, is fine, but nothing groundbreaking.
  14. OUTbrain
    Jan 5, 2022
    3
    First part is great, but second part is scam for players, because you don't know what you are buying.
  15. Spyan
    Jul 11, 2022
    1
    Garbage game that doesn't have a clue what it's supposed to be (roguelike ? nope. Escape game ? Nope. Horror narrative ? Nope again) and that is nowhere as smart as it thinks it is. Act 1 is meh, act 2 and 3 are utter garbage. Yet another overhyped and overrated game given exaggerated praises because it's an indy game that tries and fails to do something a teenier different. Mullins isGarbage game that doesn't have a clue what it's supposed to be (roguelike ? nope. Escape game ? Nope. Horror narrative ? Nope again) and that is nowhere as smart as it thinks it is. Act 1 is meh, act 2 and 3 are utter garbage. Yet another overhyped and overrated game given exaggerated praises because it's an indy game that tries and fails to do something a teenier different. Mullins is ANOTHER pretentious pseudo intellectual geek that is oblivious to the fact that DEVS AREN'T WRITERS and IT SHOWS. Stick to making games and stop thinking you're Truman Capote, you fraud. Just another hollow concept masquarading as a thought piece, filled to the brim with pseudo meta BS and navel gazing.… Expand
  16. Natzore
    Jan 1, 2022
    0
    So confusing I couldn't even get past the first level. Also why is it marketed as a roguelike if it's not a roguelike?
  17. hulgaard
    Apr 30, 2023
    0
    Unique and very interesting gameplay. Some levels are a little repetitive and it can be broken with the right card combinations like any other single player card game.
  18. RagamufinRoo
    Dec 12, 2022
    0
    Over-hyped. It's just a bad deck builder. Don't even bother if it's on sale.
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Awards & Rankings

18
#18 Best PC Game of 2021
30
#30 Most Discussed PC Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 49 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 49
  3. Negative: 0 out of 49
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 30, 2024
    100
    The game is fun to play, the combat is fun, the plot is fine, the twists are unpredictable, it’s functionally consistent (it can be used as a gallery of good practice examples when teaching game design), and it beats like a well-stitched heart made of several mammals inserted into a robot with a human head and an endless sense of humor. You'll laugh, you'll cry, this game will change your life, Bernard said, and I agree. [Issue#317]
  2. Impulsegamer
    Jan 3, 2023
    90
    The creepiest hand of cards you'll ever play, and one of the best pieces of interactive fiction I've seen in years.
    Read full review
  3. GameSpace
    Feb 17, 2022
    100
    The art style, mixed with the fun mechanic of deck building, puzzles, and overarching story is just phenomenal. And that my friends, is just Act I, at already 8 hours of playtime. Inscryption has three total acts, with much, much more content waiting for you to uncover. It has been a bit since I finished the game, but I haven’t been able to put out the review because of life things. Even so, months later, I still can’t get Inscryption out of my head. It’s just that good. You will not find a better bargain for your buck as far as story-rich horror games go.
    Read full review
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