INDUSTRIA Image
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Summary: Berlin, 9th November 1989: The streets are full of people. After four decades of division, thousands of cars are rolling across the inner-German border. The Wall is finally open!

    At the same time a man disappears in a secret research facility near East Berlin. His goodbye message reaches
    Berlin, 9th November 1989: The streets are full of people. After four decades of division, thousands of cars are rolling across the inner-German border. The Wall is finally open!

    At the same time a man disappears in a secret research facility near East Berlin. His goodbye message reaches you too late. You drive back to the office, where the State Security has already destroyed all records of the research project. The complex is deserted and empty.

    The search for Walter takes you deep into the center of the facility - right into the heart of the universe, where time seems to stand still. The dark secret lurks - well hidden - behind the curtain. In the end, it is horrible insights and the questions of responsibility that make you dive deeper and deeper into a strange, surreal yet familiar world.
    Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Negative: 1 out of 9
  1. Jul 4, 2022
    80
    Industria takes inspiration from title like Bioshock and Half-Life, featuring a fantastic story with some decent gunplay and puzzles as well.
  2. Jun 14, 2022
    80
    It might not stand shoulder to shoulder with the greats but for those looking for a new story driven FPS to play, Industria is one to check out.
  3. Jun 16, 2022
    80
    Many may be frustrated by the average gameplay and - at times - bog-standard combat offerings that are found in Industria. However, I found the narrative, the ambition of the game, and the sense of wonder and place all very intriguing; at times, melancholic.
  4. Jun 9, 2022
    60
    We like the setting, in 1989 East Germany and the storyline, but Industria has plenty of technical issues, and, even for a 4 hour long game, it gets repetitive.
  5. Jun 17, 2022
    60
    Industria is far, far from perfect- but it's not without its merits.
  6. Jun 14, 2022
    60
    While Industria’s atmosphere certainly nailed what it was going for, the monotonous gameplay and rushed story left me dissatisfied. Still, I loved the ambiance and backdrop, and I wouldn’t mind if Bleakmill took another crack at it – the rest of this world just needs a few more cogs added to its machine.
  7. Jun 22, 2022
    40
    This is a tediously dull, monotonous, and derivative game that offers up absolutely nothing of any real worth in terms of story or mechanics.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Jun 18, 2022
    9
    Industria is a game that certain people will most assuredly dislike. It’s obtuse, it’s short, it’s slow paced and it’s mechanicallyIndustria is a game that certain people will most assuredly dislike. It’s obtuse, it’s short, it’s slow paced and it’s mechanically simplistic. So if that sounds like a deal-breaker scenario, you’ll likely not enjoy it. However.

    Industria is beautiful. Its lonely cityscapes mixed with retro-futuristic details are full of atmosphere. The core gameplay is FPS fare, which is done competently (if not entirely exceptional) but the engaging bits are the narrative beats, doled out in small bursts. A plot point will bring up a question, a journal entry will elaborate with strange and subtle details, something you see will catch your eye and make you stop dead in your tracks, it’s a drip feed of world building that keeps you enticed. Industria also does not answer all the questions it asks. In some respects it seems purposeful, giving you room to interpret and hypothesize, while at other points it seems it’s perhaps leading towards a sequel. And while I would have preferred some things more fleshed out, I can understand a small team not wanting to tie up every loose end. A lot has clearly gone into this world and story, and one game wouldn’t do it justice (especially on an indie budget). I’m hoping there will be a sequel or perhaps more stories in the same universe.

    The voice acting is sparse but wonderfully done. The music, also minimal, is utterly fantastic. At times just popping in quietly during a break in the action, and only sticking around for a short while. Visually it draws from Eastern European influences much like its (very obvious) biggest inspiration, Half-Life 2 (Specifically City 17). All in all, Industria is an enjoyable experience that is engaging and draws you into its world. While it isn’t very long, there is no filler. The pacing is very methodical and the end left me both wanting to know so much more while at the same time feeling perfectly satisfied. Again, if it’s core design sounds “boring”, don’t play it (especially if you’re just going to leave a comment calling it a “walking simulator” or some other useless criticism). But if it sounds intriguing and you enjoy narrative driven games, I implore you. Give Industria your attention. It surely deserves it.
    Expand
  2. Jun 17, 2022
    6
    Good-
    Engaging story and well done storytelling. World-building is amazing. Great atmosphere and sense of place. Visually very impressive.
    Good-
    Engaging story and well done storytelling. World-building is amazing. Great atmosphere and sense of place. Visually very impressive.

    Bad-
    Movement and controls are a bit cumbersome. Puzzles are bland. Combat is dull. A lot of technical bugs

    Thoughts-
    Industria is a wildly imperfect game. It has significant issues in areas that affect nearly the entire experience, and get in the way of enjoyment in ways that aren’t easy to ignore. When the simple act of moving around isn’t fun and the core gameplay pillars are serviceable at best and dull at worst, you know the game has issues. And yet, even so, I have enjoyed my time with this game. Industria is fairly short at around four hours in length, and though I have been left frustrated with its gameplay deficiencies more than a few times, I can’t help but acknowledge its obvious strengths in atmosphere, storytelling, and world-building. My recommendation here comes with some clear and very significant caveats- but it is still a recommendation. As it exists right now, Industria is a very rough but solid experience. With a bit more polish and time in the oven, it could have been so much more.
    Expand