Inscryption

Inscryption, developed by Daniel Mullins Games and published by Devolver Digital, first emerged in 2021 and quickly became a sensation for its genre-bending gameplay and deeply unsettling atmosphere. 

Also available on the Nintendo Switch, Inscryption brings its unique blend of card game mechanics, horror, and dark storytelling to a wider audience.

At first glance, Inscryption seems like a typical card-based roguelike, but beneath its surface lies a narrative so twisted and mysterious that it's better described as a psychological horror journey. The game pulls you in with simple card battles against a shadowy figure in a dimly lit cabin, but as you progress, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary game. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and every decision you make feels like it could be your last.

What makes Inscryption particularly remarkable is how it seamlessly blends different genres and mechanics. The game starts as a deck-building roguelike but quickly evolves into something much more complex, incorporating escape room puzzles, narrative twists, and even elements that break the fourth wall, all of which are perfectly suited to the Switch’s portable format.

The Nintendo Switch version of Inscryption retains all the chilling detail and immersive gameplay of the original PC release. The touchscreen controls add an extra layer of interactivity, making the experience even more personal and intense. Whether you're playing docked or on the go, the eerie atmosphere and the game’s unpredictable nature are perfectly preserved.

Inscryption is not just a game; it's an experience—one that will haunt you long after you’ve set down the Switch. From its haunting soundtrack to its retro-inspired visuals, every element of the game is designed to pull you deeper into its unsettling world. If you’re a fan of games that defy conventions and keep you on the edge of your seat, Inscryption is a must-play.

In the first phase of the game, the graphics are well designed and the cards are very beautiful.

Card Mechanics

In Inscryption, the core mechanics revolve around a unique blend of card game strategies that evolve as you progress through the game. Initially, the gameplay focuses on sacrificing cards, often representing animals, to summon stronger creatures. Each card in your hand has a cost, usually in the form of "blood" or "bones", which you gain by sacrificing other cards. For instance, you might need to sacrifice a squirrel (which costs nothing) to bring out a more powerful wolf, which requires two sacrifices. This mechanic forces you to think carefully about which cards to play and when to make sacrifices, balancing immediate strength with long-term strategy.

As the game progresses, the mechanics evolve, introducing new decks and themes that shift away from the traditional sacrifice system. For example, you encounter the Robot cards that rely on "energy" instead of sacrifices. Energy regenerates every turn, adding a new strategic layer to the game, as you must manage a resource that renews over time rather than relying on sacrificing cards.

Later, you might also encounter Wizard cards that use a different mechanic altogether, such as requiring "Mox" crystals to power their abilities. This introduces yet another way to play, as these decks don't depend on the traditional blood or bone sacrifice mechanics, but instead on maintaining certain conditions on the board.

Each new set of mechanics keeps the game fresh and forces you to adapt your strategy. Whether you're summoning animals, managing energy, or casting spells, Inscryption constantly challenges you to rethink your approach, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same. The game’s evolving nature, along with its mysterious and atmospheric narrative, makes for a truly unique experience that keeps you guessing at every turn. 

The Story

Inscryption begins in a way that immediately pulls players into its eerie, unsettling atmosphere. At the start, you find yourself in a dark, claustrophobic cabin, sitting at a table opposite a mysterious figure. This figure, whose face is shrouded in darkness, introduces you to a card game that will form the core of your experience. The setting feels like a blend of a survival horror and a tabletop game, where every move you make is scrutinized by this shadowy opponent who seems to have complete control over your fate.

As you play, you start to realize that there is much more going on than just a simple card game. The mysterious figure isn’t just a random opponent; he’s more of a maniacal host, trapping you in this never-ending loop of card games with increasingly strange and sinister elements. The cabin itself becomes a character of its own, filled with secrets and puzzles that hint at a larger story outside the confines of the game table.

The plot thickens as you discover that your experience is being documented by someone outside this twisted game. You’re shown snippets of video footage that reveal a person investigating the game itself—suggesting that this card game, and the horrors within it, have somehow bled into the real world. This introduces a meta-narrative, where you’re not just playing a game, but are also being pulled into a story that exists both inside and outside the game.

As you progress, the game shifts dramatically, transporting you into a bizarre "metaworld" where the reality of the game is questioned. Here, you find yourself embroiled in a struggle between four mysterious figures known as the Scribes, each representing different aspects of the card game. These Scribes are engaged in a power struggle, and you are drawn into their conflict, with your actions in the game influencing the outcome of this larger battle.

Throughout all this, Inscryption masterfully blurs the lines between game and reality, making you question what’s real and what’s just part of the twisted world you’re trapped in. The deeper you go, the more the game reveals its layers, keeping you constantly on edge and wondering what lies just beyond the next turn of the card. Without giving too much away, it’s safe to say that Inscryption is more than just a card game—it’s an experience that plays with your perceptions and expectations in ways you won’t see coming.

Game map. Each destination point has an icon indicating
a specific challenge, which you will learn about very well.

The Gameplay

The initial stages of the game are presented through a map in which the player navigates from point to point, choosing paths that lead to various encounters and events. This map is not just a visual representation, but a key element of the gameplay that sets the stage for the eerie and strategic experience that unfolds.

Each map ends with a final boss-there are four of them before moving on to the next twist in the story.

As the player progresses through the map, they encounter different locations that represent various challenges and opportunities. These include standard card battles, but also more nuanced and strategic elements. For example, there are locations where the player can sacrifice one card to permanently upgrade another, or choose one from three, or upgrade another at the risk of losing it permanently with each upgrade attempt.

In Inscryption there are also secondary characters that populate map locations, such as the Carver, who procures artifacts capable of permanently enhancing cards before putting them into play, or the Hunter, who can trade skin cards for more or less powerful cards. 

As the game evolves, these mechanics grow more intricate, especially as the player is introduced to new types of cards and strategies. For example, the robot cards and wizard cards that come into play later in the game introduce mechanics that deviate from the traditional sacrifice-based system, adding new dimensions to the strategic depth of the game.

This map-based progression, combined with the rich and evolving card mechanics, creates a deeply immersive experience that keeps the player engaged and constantly rethinking their strategy.

The design and utilization of various objects add a unique and somewhat macabre layer to the gameplay, enhancing both the strategic elements and the eerie atmosphere of the game. As you navigate through the map and face different challenges, you'll come across several items that can be used during card battles, each with its own unsettling twist.

One of the most striking objects is the pliers, which allow the player to pull out one of their own teeth and place it on the scale. The scale is a critical part of the game, as it measures the damage dealt to either side. The act of using the pliers to remove a tooth and tip the scale in your favor is a perfect example of how Inscryption blends physical horror with strategic gameplay. This mechanic forces players to make a gruesome sacrifice for a potential advantage in the card game.

Here we are at yet another challenge
against our fearsome enemy...
but this time we have a Death Card,
created in the previous run, in our favor to play.  

Another key element is the progression of the map and the final bosses that mark the end of

each segment. For instance, when you encounter and defeat the fisherman—a character who tries to hook your cards as if they were fish—you gain the ability to use his hook. This hook allows you to steal one of your opponent's cards, adding a powerful tool to your arsenal. Each boss encounter is thematically linked to the objects and mechanics that define their battles, making these encounters not just climactic, but also deeply tied to the overall strategy and lore of the game.

This Death Card is summoned with
one sacrifice and can do 8 points of damage
in the three directions, or 24 points in total.
Basically, we can win the game with one move.

Moreover, the game continues to surprise with the introduction of new mechanics and objects as you advance. Whether it's the use of a knife to gouge out your eye and gain a special eye in return or the items that can be used to manipulate the cards and the environment around you, *Inscryption* continually pushes the boundaries of traditional card game mechanics.These elements combine to create an experience that is both richly strategic and unsettlingly immersive, making Inscryption stand out not only for its gameplay but also for its dark and inventive design.

The Death Cards

The Death Cards are a unique mechanic that adds a personal and evolving element to each run of the game. When your character inevitably meets their end during the course of the game, you are given the opportunity to create a Death Card. This card is essentially a custom card that carries over into subsequent runs, allowing you to design a card with powerful stats and abilities, making your next attempt potentially easier.

The process of creating a Death Card involves selecting aspects from three different categories:

• 1. Cost: You choose the cost of the card, which could be based on blood sacrifices, bones, or other resources.
• 
  
• 2. Power and Health: You select the power (attack value) and health (defense value) of the card from the stats of cards you had in your deck during the run that just ended.
• 
  
• 3. Sigils: Finally, you pick a sigil, which is a special ability or effect that the card will have. This could be anything from the ability to fly, revive after death, or other powerful effects.

These Death Cards not only give you an edge in future games but also tell a story of your past attempts, with the names you give them and the choices you make reflecting your journey through the game. As you progress, your deck becomes increasingly populated with these custom Death Cards, creating a sense of continuity and growth even as you replay the game.

After yet another twist in the story, the game completely changes its mechanics and transports the player into a Pokemon-like JRPG with card battles... Awesome.

We will fight the final boss in a world similar to the first stage of the game,
but totally robotic, with new mechanics in our card game.

The Verdict

Inscryption on the Nintendo Switch offers a uniquely unsettling experience that combines card-based strategy with elements of horror and mystery. The game successfully keeps players on their toes with its ever-evolving gameplay mechanics and cryptic storyline. While it might not appeal to everyone due to its unconventional approach, those who appreciate a deep, immersive, and thought-provoking game will find it a standout title on the platform.

Pros:

• Innovative and evolving gameplay mechanics that keep the experience fresh.
• Dark, atmospheric storytelling that draws you in.
• A unique blend of card game strategy with elements of horror and puzzle-solving.

Cons:

• The game’s unconventional nature may not appeal to everyone, especially those expecting a traditional card game.
• The difficulty curve can be steep, and the game may feel unforgiving at times.

Score	Rating
Game Nintendo Switch	95%