Inscryption

This is one of the most unique and engaging games I've ever played. It is simply one of a kind and there is absolutely nothing else like it, nor would I expect there ever will be. Many video games these days stick to player expectations within a certain format, maybe trying to innovate, but within a genre. If you're looking to entirely break out of that world and play something that fully pushes the boundaries of interactive media at large, Inscryption is it. It's more than just a game, it's a piece of art. And that's not to say it's sterile or pretentious in any way. The gameplay is challenging, diverse, and all conceptually grounded in a story that will stick with you. It's an inspiring and impressive effort, that you should not miss.

The devs really put a lot of good ideas in this game, and the result is something new, funny, packed with secrets, and really entertaining. I have been playng games for over 30 years and it's great to see this level of ingenuity in a game.

Inscryption really impressed me. Just wow, what a journey. Twists, atmosphere, story, gameplay. I do like everything about this game. Mullins is very inetersting developer.

This review is as spoiler-free as I can manage. To be fair, you must expect radical surprises when you buy a Daniel Mullin game. Meta-narratives are his entire shtick, see Pony Island. As such, when the big twist came after a few hours of great gameplay, I was excited to see where it would go from a storytelling perspective. Gameplay-wise, however, the twist also brings about a sudden and frankly baffling increase in game difficulty. Without warning, the main game loop, the "Inscryption" card game, increases both in scope and complexity. The game expects you to press onwards against difficult odds, without first at least easing the player into what amounts to a brand-new superset of the old game rules. In addition, the twist introduces CCG mechanics, meaning that your deck is no longer at the mercy of the RNG, but that you must collect and build your own deck of cards to play with instead. I really, really wish the developer hadn't included this feature. I'm am terrible at CCG and atrocious at building my own deck. I can't do it and have thus far been happy to leave those kinds of games (MtG, etc.) to others. Had I known I would be faced with those exact CCG mechanics in what I assumed to just be an FTL-esque rogue-like "but with cards", I probably wouldn't have bought the game in the first place. Make no mistake. The first act of Inscryption is great, but if you are not a fan of CCG and sudden difficulty spikes, be mindful of your purchase!

Im specially fond of the post game roguelike aspect, but the story is so good! I recomend other games by Daniel Mullins for the similar story and tone.