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Inscryption 2021
Inscryption is a 2021 roguelike deck-building video game developed by Daniel Mullins Games and published by Devolver Digital. The title was directed by Daniel Mullins and first launched for Windows on October 19, 2021, followed by releases on Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S within the subsequent two years. Players find themselves inside a cabin where a strange gamemaster forces them to play a tabletop game.
The title merges several genres such as deck-building, roguelike, turn-based strategy, escape room, puzzle and adventure, with influences from tabletop role-playing games, board games, horror, vlogs, and found footage. Its visual style combines computer animation, pixel art, drawn art, and live action, featuring first person, third-person and 2.5D perspectives. The game begins without any background or context; its mysterious, metafictional storyline must be pieced together from later events and hidden optional hints. A real-world alternate reality game (ARG) is embedded both within the game’s video content and external sources, offering extra narrative through numerous easter eggs requiring decryption.
The project began as Sacrifices Must Be Made, a shorter and simpler game created by Mullins in 2018 for a Ludum Dare game jam. That version used a deck-building mechanic where players had to kill their own creatures to summon new ones. After uploading the prototype to itch.io in December 2018, positive feedback prompted Mullins to greatly expand the original concept into what became Inscryption. Upon release, it received favorable reviews and won multiple Game of the Year awards, selling 1 million copies by January 2022. Critics especially appreciated its originality, card combat system, presentation and story, although some criticism arose over changes in later sections. A free expansion titled Kaycee's Mod was released in March 2022, allowing players to focus exclusively on the tabletop game while skipping other features of Inscryption.
Crew
- Director
- Daniel Mullins
- Music
- Jonah Senzel
Details
- Developer
- Daniel Mullins Games
- Publisher
- Devolver Digital
- Platforms
- Windows, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Modes
- Single-player
- Engine
- Unity
