The Invincible

Based on the 1964 hard sci-fi novel of the same name, The Invincible tells a mature, thought-provoking story about a research team’s discoveries on a distant planet. While the gameplay isn’t much to write home about, the smartly presented experience is nevertheless out of this world.

An undercooked ending doesn’t capsize the rest of the experience, though, which is ultimately a perfectly calibrated sci-fi adventure with an inimitable aesthetic sense. As a game, The Invincible may not be entirely unassailable, but its credentials are as solid as one could ask for.

The Invincible has just about everything one could ask for in a sci-fi thriller: robots, the unknown, a foreboding sense of unease. Add to that some absolutely breath-taking visuals and you’ve got an adventure that’s hard to put down. Starward Industries has created something rather wonderful here, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

The Invincible is a great walking sim that tells a solid science fiction story, with a likeable protagonist and some strong writing.

The Invincible proved to be a successful homage and an adventure capable of capturing the complexity and restlessness of Stanislaw Lem's work. Despite some negligible frivolities, the attention to detail and the depth of the story fully repay the gaming experience, offering all lovers of narrative adventures (or those who want to approach the gaming model) a title to take into serious consideration.

The Invincible isn’t really a game you play for its core gameplay. You play it to experience an interesting story that takes place on an alien planet with technology plucked right from the early 1900s.

The Invincible is a novel brought to life, blending its story and stunning visuals with engaging exploration. The Invincible goes back to the roots of sci-fi, offering something both classic and new when it comes to exploring the relationship between humanity and the final frontier.

If you like walking simulators and deep stories, this game is right up your alley. The atmosphere and the visual style will engulf you completely, making it feel natural to ponder the philosophical questions raised by your trek through Regis III. But I can’t forget or forgive the deliberately snail like pace and cheap shots meant to extend a 4-hour experience into one that take 8 hours to finish. Despite the short length, the experience would have been much more enjoyable if it wouldn’t have been so diluted.

I enjoyed exploring Regis III and uncovering the various mysteries that it holds. However, while the gameplay is simple and basic, The Invincible excels in its fantastic writing and performances from main characters, Yasna and Novick. As I played through the game, I was driven deeper and deeper into its narrative until the big reveals were finally unleashed.

If The Invincible stands out for its superb artistic direction and its palpable suspense, it is content to be quite good on other levels. But the immersion is such that it could almost create an illusion. The problem is that it doesn't always stand the test of bugs, details and other gameplay limitations. Despite real potential, The Invincible is therefore far from a Firewatch. But if you like science fiction and exotic adventures, you will be able to be charmed by this experience which remains gripping and which is still worth a look.

The Invincible is one of the best Walking Simulators in the recent years, but its solid story telling gets overshadowed by its many technical issues and disappointing ending.