‘Inscryption’ Is Indie Gaming’s Latest Success Story

Inscryption's dark and creepy art style contributes much to the game's fear factor

Card games aren’t exactly the first thing to come to mind whenever the horror genre is brought up, but “Inscryption” throws this notion out of the window with its dark and creepy themes as it slowly crawls inside the player’s mind.

“Inscryption” recently sold over 1 million copies worldwide, according to GamesRadar, which is an impressive feat for an indie card game. The game has received positive reviews from both players and critics, which speaks volumes about how enjoyable it is.

Despite its simple appearance, “Inscryption” is actually quite deep. It combines roguelike deckbuilding and escape-room style puzzles with an atmosphere so thick and immersive that it’s borderline nauseating. All of these are enshrouded behind a mysterious story that breaches the fourth wall in a way that very few games are able to.

The game was made by solo developer Daniel Mullins, the same man behind “The Hex” and the notorious “Pony Island,” and published by Devolver Digital.

Despite being labeled as a horror game, “Inscryption” never really dabs into the realm of jump scares or terrifying set pieces. Instead, the game places players in an unsettling situation that manages to create a thoroughly creepy ambiance throughout the duration of the campaign, which will take players on an unexpected odyssey that’s around eight or nine hours long.

From the unnerving art style to the retro-style sound effects, the game offers a unique experience that any horror fan can enjoy.

Players will spend most of their time dueling against AI in a card game that’s similar to “Magic: The Gathering.” Place creatures on a board to attack and defend against the enemy’s monsters, then hit the opponent directly until they lose all of their HP. Be careful though, as getting hit means the enemy recovers their own health, keeping them in the fight.

The card game portion is a constant tug-of-war that gets complicated in the later parts of the game. On the other hand, the escape room portion of the game lets players explore the 3D room that they’re in to find some means to get out.