Weekend Gaming Vibes: Inscryption – The Everyday Adventure

In 2017, I finally caved in and acquired Pony Island after being urged to do so for many months, and I found myself captivated and overjoyed, regretting not having played it sooner.

This was a game that pretended to be one thing but, in reality, was entirely different. The superficial game wasn’t particularly enjoyable or remarkable, but the underlying game was truly outstanding, and I was astonished by how fulfilling it was (as well as how engaging the lore turned out to be).

A few years down the line, I decided to pick up Inscryption based solely on the fact that it was crafted by the same developer. Then, naturally, I neglected to play it. “I’ll dive into it later,” I assured myself.

I was, once again, foolish.

The first thing that struck me when I launched the game was that there wasn’t an option for “new game.” You could only load an existing game.

Upon loading it, you’re welcomed by a pair of eyes watching you from across the table, seemingly pleased that someone has finally reloaded the game.

Then the figure instructs you on a card game, somewhat reminiscent of Magic: The Gathering, I suppose, where instead of “mana,” you are using blood. However, one of your cards is quite cheeky. He keeps elaborating on various aspects concerning your opponent throughout the match. You swiftly discover that if your avatar is defeated on the board, your character perishes in the game.

Your character traverses a map, and along the journey, the eyes across the table sometimes don a mask and assumes the role of one of the entities present on the board.

You are going to face defeat several times, leading to your various avatars being eliminated repeatedly, and your character in the game will also meet its end multiple times.

Are you trapped in a cycle where you’re merely engaging with this Magic: The Gathering imitation?

Once more, it’s not a game centered on playing the game. It’s a game about ceasing to play the game. Uncovering the mysteries of the clock, the knife, the camera.

Then, at a certain moment, you find yourself utterly immobilized… only to later realize that “New Game” is now available in the start menu. At that moment, the game *TRULY* commences.

This is yet another FANTASTIC redirection in a game.

So… what are you currently playing?