Inmost

Inmost is a very short puzzle platformer type game and does an absolutely incredible job at story telling through the atmosphere, Players can spend a little time going through a story that while only lasts about 3-5 hours, packs an abstract emotional punch that is going to stick around for so much longer... even if it is simply to figure out just what they just played.

Inmost carries with it a strong, emotional message related to feelings of loss and grief and as such, it's a game that starts off right when it comes to bonding with its players. Unfortunately it doesn't take long until unexplainable performance issues start harming the experience with an inconsistent framerate, which is difficult to understand as this is not a visually demanding game (despite its very competent audiovisual art style), and the dull, redundant gameplay with two of its three characters transmits close to nothing in terms of challenge. Inmost could have turned out much better, with a greater investment in its gameplay experience and in solving its paralyzing issues but as it is, this is an interesting but also extremely frustrating game.

Inmost took me by surprise as I wasn’t prepared for the incredible story it has to tell. Its gameplay and puzzle elements are perfectly symmetrical, making it easy to immerse yourself in this dark world for an evening and come out feeling satisfied, if not, a little melancholic. Load times and lack of direction do very little to hinder this adventure that I think is well worth your time.

A beautifully crafted, atmospheric, story-driven puzzle platformer that follows three characters in a short, yet unforgettable battle against human weaknesses.

Inmost tells a disturbing yet beautiful tale set in a complex world. It balances both narrative and gameplay surprisingly well and offers an experience that will keep you engaged throughout. Despite some small issues, Hidden Layer Games offers one of the best indie game experiences in a while and is worth your time if you are a fan of platforming and puzzle-solving.

Dark and obscure, Inmost is maybe one of the saddest game we've seen in recent years but its gloom is mostly concealed in a strange and complex storytelling that make this game very interesting and deep.

Dark, depressing, and more than a little intense, Inmost is a gorgeous game with a powerful narrative hook that doesn’t need to focus on its gameplay to deliver a powerful experience.

Inmost delivers a variety of gameplay styles, delivering three thoughtfully discordant narratives that tie together with a gut punch at the end. Beautifully constructed pixel-art graphics set a surprisingly somber tone, and the music is top notch at setting the horrific yet contemplative mood. Recommended.

Inmost could be the very definition of a hidden gem. It is probably too niche and maudlin to connect with a wider audience, but one would suspect that those it does connect with will find it to be a unique and affecting experience. It's short and not a difficult undertaking to get through, but it does do just enough to get the grey matter moving, and rewards consistently with those congratulatory "aha!" moments or aforementioned set-pieces. This really defines itself with a dark atmosphere and filmic quality, even if that's hard to imagine a 2D aesthetic doing. It has an auteur's mark on it, which leaves an impression, and makes Hidden Layers Games, Alexey Testov and Andriy Vinchovskiy ones to watch out for in future.

Inmost more or less sticks the landing, and just when you think things can’t get more tragic, there’s a ray of hope as the credits roll that brought warmth to my cold, cold heart. Though the gameplay may have some imperfections, Inmost is greater than the sum of its parts by way of its narrative, and for that reason alone, I highly recommend it.

Inmost is a well-balanced game that carefully combines a profoundly emotional story with a challenging, and at times scary, gameplay. Its visuals and soundtrack complement its central themes of grief and loss so well, resulting in a truly unique and genuinely haunting experience. Despite some minor issues such and a rushed conclusion that was merely told to the player rather than having them experience it, Inmost's dynamic storytelling, challenging puzzles, and immersive combat are enough to outweigh all of its shortcomings.

Driven by a mastered artistic direction and a staging that hits the mark, Inmost is a dark and captivating tale that can be read in one go.