Inscryption

Challenging and Fun. Don't look anything up. 9.2/10

Inscryption hooked me with its dark, mysterious vibe and clever card gameplay. What it does best is blend intense deck-building with puzzle-solving and a story that keeps you guessing the whole time. The way it constantly shifts gears kept me on edge and really invested. It’s smart, creepy, and totally unique.

Inscryption is a brilliantly inventive and genre-defying experience that masterfully blends deck-building card gameplay, psychological horror, and meta-narrative storytelling into a singular, unforgettable adventure. Developed by Daniel Mullins Games, the title initially presents itself as a dark and atmospheric card game played in a mysterious cabin, where the player faces off against a sinister figure known only as Leshy. However, as the layers of the game unfold, Inscryption reveals itself to be much more than a traditional card battler—it becomes a complex puzzle box of narrative twists, blending roguelike elements, escape-room style puzzles, and even full-fledged horror segments that challenge the player’s perception of reality within the game world. The core card gameplay is deceptively simple yet deeply strategic, requiring players to carefully manage their deck of creature cards, sacrifices, and resources while adapting to ever-escalating threats. Each card has unique abilities and synergies, and success hinges on thoughtful positioning, timing, and risk management. What makes Inscryption truly stand out is how it constantly evolves the card mechanics across different acts, introducing new rules, challenges, and even entirely new game modes that keep the gameplay fresh and unpredictable. This dynamic design ensures that players remain engaged and on their toes, never settling into a comfortable routine. Beyond mechanics, Inscryption excels in atmosphere and storytelling. The game’s art style—deliberately rough and eerie—paired with a haunting soundscape and unsettling voice acting, creates a deeply immersive and unsettling environment that permeates every aspect of the experience. The narrative is delivered through cryptic clues, environmental storytelling, and layered dialogue, weaving a meta-story about control, creativity, and the nature of games themselves. As the game progresses, players uncover dark secrets behind the cabin, the mysterious figure, and the very origins of the cards, leading to mind-bending revelations that challenge conventions and expectations. The meta-narrative is cleverly integrated with gameplay, blurring the lines between player, character, and developer in a way that few games dare to explore. Inscryption also shines in its puzzle design, offering a variety of brain-teasing challenges that complement the card battles and deepen the mystery. These puzzles range from decoding cryptic messages to manipulating the game’s interface in unexpected ways, rewarding curiosity and persistence. The game encourages exploration and experimentation, and multiple endings add significant replay value for those eager to uncover every secret. While Inscryption is widely praised, its unconventional structure and frequent shifts in gameplay style may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer straightforward experiences. The game’s darker themes and moments of tension can be intense, and some puzzles can be quite challenging, demanding patience and creative thinking. However, these aspects are part of what gives the game its unique identity and lasting impact. In summary, Inscryption is a daring and brilliantly crafted hybrid that pushes the boundaries of what a card game—and a video game—can be. It combines innovative mechanics, haunting atmosphere, and a layered, thought-provoking story into a cohesive whole that captivates and challenges players on multiple levels. For those willing to embrace its mysteries and embrace its unsettling charm, Inscryption offers a deeply rewarding journey into the unknown, redefining interactive storytelling and gameplay in the process. Rating: 9/10

I only got into gaming a few years ago when my partner built me a PC. Inscryption was the first game that really blew me away. I loved the balance of the card game with the greater mystery. It has a really great variety of art styles too which was really fun!

Love this dudes projects. To much ARG for me to do myself but they are not necessary for the experience. Was expecting this game seance the beta(?) and wasn't disappointed one beat.

I bought this game not knowing too much about it. It was on sale, and a friend had recommended it in the past. I got it, started it up, and let me tell you. This game has not left my mind once in the past two weeks. It's rare for me to find a game with a story I get deeply invested in to this level that also has gameplay that gets me playing and replaying over and over again. Inscryption is exactly that. I love the vibes and the feel across the acts, the characters are genuinely interesting, the formatting and story are so unique and I have truly never played a game like this before. Definitely going to be a long favourite of mine. [spoiler] Also the robot is really really cute. please p03 just one chance please p03 please please please ple [/spoiler]

pretty fun, the game makes sure to hold your hand throughout the experience by pushing you in the right direction, cool characters, nice aesthetic, overall great game

Genuinely the best game i have played through. The game play is amazing. The story is detailed. And the designs are beautiful. I like all of the 3 acts, even 2. It also has a great soundtrack to fit each part perfectly. 10/10 game, would recommend.

The game is good until the last bit. The game is always playable, but really only the first 6-8 felt like an amazing game. After that it is quite a slog. Repeated mechanics that don't really expand in the last two acts, the game outside the card battles is more complicated, but the card battles don't feel much different. I really think its got a good premise, but the last portion is just so exhausting. I personally don't care about the B plot and I think that similar concepts have been done in other games that I preferred.

Inscryption was recommended to me by my brother and I went into this game blind. I had no idea what to expect from this game. The game offers some tutorial-like stages at the beginning, however, I still found act 1 gameplay confusing for a while. I feel they could have taken a little more time on introducing the game to you. By the time I was comfortable with the gameplay, I was then thrown into new gameplay with act 2. Avoiding spoilers, Inscryption switches up on the player quite drastically. I had mixed emotions about this. After completing the game, I learned to appreciate each part. I ended up replaying them for achievements and had fun. -Rougelike: I found the rougelike aspects of the game quite forgiving. This was refreshing since the game was a bit hard to understand. -Soundtrack: There's not a whole lot of music in this game. The songs are atmospheric and fit the vibe of the game. I especially enjoy the leitmotifs in the final boss of act 1. -Plot: I have read a lot of praise for the plot, but I never was that intrigued. It is presented in a "shock value" style. I cared to know more about the in-game characters (Leshy, Magnificus, P03, Grimora etc.) more than scenes about Luke. -Endgame: Kaycee's mod is the endgame mode. It is an advanced version of act 1 with more cards and abilities. The endgame has the best gameplay in my opinion. I had a lot of fun going through the challenges. 100% the game. With this addition, I would overall consider it a 7.5-8/10 game.

Wow, just wow. I'm so glad i went in blind. This game is batshit, it's the best game i've played in a long while; i'm still sitting here stunned and digesting, a second playthrough is imminent but not for right now. Words fail to describe how amazing this game is. & tell me why i started out hating Leshy & ended up w tears when he told me the scores don't matter & it was a good game? T.T wasn't expecting to feel this emotional fr. I chose Magnificus & it GUTTED me that the handshake was of importance to him & yet we never did it - just rip my heart out why dontcha T.T So, so many post-game feels, it's a must-play no matter if you think this genre isn't your type bc it will be.

"New game" isn't an option. As soon as you boot up the game for the first time after installing, you are forced to select "continue game". That kinda sets the vibe for the religious experience that follows. I didn't think that a deck-building card game could change the way I view all of fiction and storytelling, but I'm okay with being wrong. Everyone needs to experience this game once in their life. Beautifully and carefully crafted, Inscryption is a genre-bending masterpiece that I will play until my dying breath.

it’s like if you mashed together a roguelike, an escape room, a found footage horror movie, and some guy’s cursed childhood trading card collection. but like, in a good way. highlights include: - losing and being immortalised as a creepy card - squirrel-based ethical dilemmas - the phrase “stoat moment” now living rent-free in my head -the moment you realise you’re not just in the game — you are the game anyway, incredible experience. don’t google anything. don’t trust anything. do trust the squirrel. also someone’s knocking on my door. if i disappear, tell leshy he still owes me a gold pelt.

What a game! Don’t look up trailers, don’t read reviews, don’t even scroll down this page. Just play it. It starts as one thing… and becomes something else entirely. Creepy, clever, and completely unforgettable.

Chapter 1 of this game is great, and it took me 8 hours to beat, but the next chapter takes away everything that's good about this game... I know there is another chapter which is better, but Chapter 2 artstyle is a mistake.

This is such a fun game. I really enjoyed the story, which I can't say much about because of spoilers. It does drag a bit in some places, but it's easily worth the price.

What can I say except—wow! After finishing The Operator, I was searching for another game that could deliver a similar emotional and gameplay experience, and I stumbled upon Inscryption. I'm so glad I did. This game truly has it all: music, gameplay, art style, and story all come together to create something special. While I haven't yet completed the Kaycee’s Mod section, the main game itself is incredibly fun and engaging. One of my favorite aspects of Inscryption is how it incorporates failure as a learning mechanic. Losing isn’t just part of the game—it helps you get better, both by improving your understanding of the mechanics and by strengthening your deck. Although it initially appears to be a deck-building roguelike, Inscryption also features elements of puzzle-solving and psychological horror, which add significant depth to the experience. I especially appreciated how the game rewards exploration and curiosity. Solving puzzles and uncovering secrets isn’t just for show—it directly benefits your gameplay and deck-building. Pros: Super fun and unique gameplay Mysterious and creepy storyline Deep mechanics and rewarding exploration Cons: I wish the game had been even longer Overall, Inscryption is a clever, immersive, and unforgettable game. Highly recommended for fans of strategy, mystery and horror!

Just play it 10/10 Absolute Masterpiece cool characters, nice aesthetic. overall great game

Starts interesting, but gets incredibly repetitive and tedious.

it's a frustrating mess of a game that I wish I could love. I don't understand the "Overwhelmingly Positive" reviews because to me this game is "Mixed" at BEST.

This is one of the best games I have ever played and it was one hell of a ride. Do not look up anything on the internet; no gameplays, no spoilers, let the game blow your mind.

Probably still one of the best card battlers on steam. Story mode + Endless mode both are very fun. Highly recommended.

Fun mix of gameplay and narrative.

this game is peak. i love inscryuuption. leshy's toes are scrumptious mmmmm

This is the first review I’ve ever written, and I hope that shows how much I recommend this game. It scratches that specific itch of deck building and even scratches my love of horror a bit. I cannot recommend this enough, especially if you enjoy games like Ascension or Balatro.

It's hard to talk about this game without potentially robbing newcomers of the joy of discovering it's secrets. lovers of story, deckbuilding roguelikes, mysteries, and just overall wild times should absolutely give it a shot. One of my favorite games of all time. Cannot gush enough.

go in blind... idk what more to say for this amazing game without spoiling anything other than its really flipping good.

super addicting game. love the atmosphere. art is great. gotta be one of the best indie games out there. the story didn't blow me away but I loved this game. 9.5/10

very interesting game, stays unpredictable throughout. i recommend, even at full price.

I don't think a game has sucked up both my time and attention like this game has before, I got the game on a whim because the summer steam sale was going on and it was less that 5$ so I got it and before I knew it 11 AND A HALF HOURS flew by faster than I could blink

My brain grows larger with every new pathway it creates trying to understand how to play this game

Saying this game is good is a disgusting understatement. It’s continuously challenging, never stale and always entertaining. I’ve lost days playing at already, I sobbed at the ending. Please- don’t hesitate to get this game.

This game combines in-Game horror with psychological Horror to a new way i have never experienced before. this game ist defently a must play for horror and lore enjoyers.

I don't remember a single player game arousing this much curiosity in me for a long time, and it was a game I finished in 2 sittings because of my curiosity. It was a game that I continued to play with different mechanics each time and asked myself "What happened now?" and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you.

I don't know why I didn't write a review any earlier but this HAS to be one of my favorite games- because a card game with LORE???? Honestly one of the best games I've ever played would recommend 10/10 if you're stubborn af and willing to see things through despite how often you may want to rip your hair out (lovingly said).

one of the most story rich and best games i have ever played. i truly recommend this game as there is so much for the low price. would play again to complete it to 100%. there is some learning curve throughout game but nothing crazy hard. must play.

Came for the card game mechanics, stayed for the story. Could not put it down. This is an amazing game.

A triumph of art, a mind-bending nightmare, and a pretty good card game to boot. A revelatory gaming experience, I cannot recommend this game more vociferously. 5/5

This game is a masterpiece from the gameplay to the game design. Everything about this game is great I never had a single problem playing this game. I'm a sucker for deck builder games and this game scratches that itch. when I first play the game I was a little dissipated that i was done but then they added a new mode that allows you to play the game more with out the story. the mechanics in this game are amazing. With trying to balance your team and and the luck of getting the best totems for the right team feel so good. But when you in a battle the sacrifice mechanic to get strong card on the bored is great. but I wish they added different mods for the different scribes. I would of love to see more of the crystal mechanic it just was so interesting. the base game is still amazing and you can mode it I just would have loved to see it. the story is amazing I won't say anything about the story do to i want people to play this game with as little spoilers as possible. I play this game with no spoiler and it was a amazing experience. If you have not play this game play it with no spoilers. I highly recommend this game if you don't light deck builder games or roguelikes

An amazing deckbuilder, especially if you enjoy mystery and have played some old school deckbuilders, this game will give you some nostalgia :) Game has a very cool discovery element therefore, please play it blind.

This is one of my favorite card games, thanks to its compelling storyline and engaging gameplay. What makes it even more fascinating is how it lets you experience both 3D and pixel art styles — a unique combination that truly captivated me from the very first time I played!

Play the game, no guides, no spoilers, just play. After you beat it, do the lore, do the puzzle help, whatever. Just figure out the story as you go and enjoy this masterwork.

1000/10 dont get spoiled and just go for it if u play games for their story ps dont get fooled by the first look of it the art direction is top

Very cool mix of Roguelite / Deck building / Adventure game. Never seen anything like that.

incredible deck-building puzzle roguelite. loved the mechanics and world, and am so glad i went into it blind.

crying, 10/10 didnt expect an emotional rollercoaster

Funny scary card game love this rouge-like, trying to follow what stoat says is cool

Amazing game! Nothing quite like it that I've encountered! There are 3 distinct acts and the game offers great deck-building, rougelite fun, mixed with an interesting and sinister story!~ Take advantage of a sale and get this unforgettable game today!! 10/10

Very unique and challenging card game. The artwork and different styles displayed throughout the game kept it fresh and fun. After beating there's a new game mode that is very unforgiving and makes you "git gud". I'm not one to generally play these types of games but this one was worth. It'd be real dope if there was a second one to come or a prequel or really anything in respect to this game. Still playing the new game mode and getting shit on. 9/10

Chills! Absolute chills when I got to the ending. I had actually watched Markiplier's playthrough of this a while back, but the impact of the ending hits even harder when you're the one playing. The gameplay is also super fun. I found myself purposefully just playing through the first Act over and over.