The Inner Friend

 Xbox One
User Score
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No user score yet- Awaiting 3 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1

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  1. Xbox_Alive
    Apr 28, 2020
    7
    The Inner Friend is a 3rd Person Intreperative Narrative. You begin the game floating around the husk of a man, without a face. As you approach this figure they attempt to turn away, and as you finally get up to them you fall into the emptiness. I assume this is to represent the fact the protagonist has lost their identity, and your adventure is in an attempt to reclaim that identity. YouThe Inner Friend is a 3rd Person Intreperative Narrative. You begin the game floating around the husk of a man, without a face. As you approach this figure they attempt to turn away, and as you finally get up to them you fall into the emptiness. I assume this is to represent the fact the protagonist has lost their identity, and your adventure is in an attempt to reclaim that identity. You then plummet into M.C. Escher's deepest mind as rooms culminate together to form oddly shaped masses. There are openings that exude light, and those are where you need to go. The game is loaded with world puzzles, and items to collect in an attempt to reconstruct the real world. Every time you finish an area, you return to the room and the freefall. The game isn't very long, but it's seriously surreal. the ambient sound and light are entrancing, giving way to the immersive nature of the game. The controls are clean and simple, so it's easy enough to play. The game gives you no direction other than the first scene where you're directed to use the left stick to move the camera. I feel like a lot more could have been done with this game, as when you're finished, that's it. There isn't much replay value, but the adventure is worth checking out.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Best Xbox One Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Finger Guns
    Aug 10, 2020
    80
    The Inner Friend is a short but sweet experience that will give back as much as you put into it. You’ve got to read between the lines with this game and if you like your narratives to have a clear structure, you’ll likely bounce right off this. If you like a game to challenge you, to make you think and maybe, just maybe, make you feel something, then The Inner Friend is certainly worth a look. Some sticky platforming sections aside, it’s a thrilling and occasionally chilling game that’s truly artistic in its vision.
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  2. XboxAddict
    May 21, 2020
    65
    While flawed, especially when it comes to controls and a quite short runtime, I still enjoyed my time with The Inner Friend. I may not have completely understood all of its symbolism, but if you take it like more of an experience than a game, you can appreciate it more without your typical expectations. Bizarre and odd at times, but surreal for the majority, The Inner Friend tells its story through fantastical imagery, but it’s up to you to determine what all of it means to you.
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  3. GameSpew
    May 1, 2020
    70
    A pleasant surprise. With an intriguing concept, open story, immersive environments and dynamic yet silent characters, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything else as unique. If you can look past the few technical issues – which can hopefully be ironed out with a patch – you’ll find a worthwhile story about overcoming loneliness and self-doubt, cherishing your friendships and rediscovering who you are.
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