Inscryption
| Developer: Daniel Mullins Games | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Devolver Digital | Sound: |
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| Year: 2021 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Stratégie-aventure | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
7/10 | |
This is one of those creative and perplexing games that should be tried without knowing what it’s about, as your satisfaction will depend on the element of surprise. I shall therefore limit myself to a brief overview.
You find yourself held captive in a tiny cabin in the middle of a forest at night by a sinister and menacing hermit who forces you to play a rather special card game…
It’s a Magic-like card game, mixed with experimental storytelling and sprinkled with escape room-style puzzles (video games-style in fact).
If you’re familiar with Undertale, it’s comparable in how it breaks conventions. Personally, I didn’t like Undertale, which I found cheesy, disjointed, and boring (again, this is a minority opinion). Inscryption seems more focused. It stands on two legs: its card game (well-executed, though not particularly sophisticated) and its unique atmosphere. The first impression is phenomenal, perhaps to the detriment of the game as a whole…
Without delving into details, I was pleasantly surprised several times by a twist just when I thought I was reaching the end. However, this way of revealing the plot like a series of Russian dolls ultimately worked against the game. When the epilogue arrived, I was instead expecting to begin a new chapter. This left me rather disappointed.
Once the adventure is complete, a collection of “technical” challenges becomes available, offering various modifiers and handicaps. This mode didn’t hold my interest for long. The spell was broken. As I mentioned above, this game stands on two legs. Once the context dissipated, the card game lacked sufficient substance to keep me engaged.
In my view, it’s not the sort of game you replay (paradoxically, for a card game). Nevertheless, I would recommend this title if you have an interest in collectible card games and want something to occupy a weekend. For a longer-term investment, you’d be better off turning to Monster Train.
While I’m on the subject of recommendations and cabins in the woods … I recommend The Cabin in the Woods, a film by Drew Goddard released in 2012. Don’t look up what it’s about either. Trust me blindly!
Inscryption hides plenty of secrets, buried deep; notably, an alternate reality game, the tiniest details of which are revealed in this video (in English), to be watched after you finish the game!
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