5/5 ★ – dumbpants's review of Inscryption.

This game is exactly what modern indie games should strive to be. It subverts expectations at every corner, revealing new plot-like information just when your brain is itching for more, adding new mechanics just when you think you are excelling at the card games, even changing genres at the apex of arcs. Speaking of the gameplay, this through-and-through card game brings together so many of the great mechanics we love from real TCGs and even pits some of them against each other unexpected ways. The mechanics also get subtly changed to fit the volatile genres we move through, so even though we are familiar with the ideas of each mechanic by the end of the game there is always a new flourish to each to keep you learning and on your toes. The plot and plot devices really work for me in this game. There is a hokeyness to the meta narrative for sure, but I feel this actually grounds it well to the subtle horror undertones and vibes, pulling from found footage style media and techniques. And, there's even some emotionality you build with some characters by the end. There is so much to talk about this game which unfortunately we can't here without going into major spoilers. I can however say this game is absolutely worth your time and attention. Aside from being an overall well rounded experience, there are few special moments in this game that elicited such an exhilarating "they can do that?" feeling that a game hasn't done for me in a long time.