A Plague Tale: Innocence

About

In A Plague Tale: Innocence, players navigate a grim, rat-infested 14th century France as Amicia and her younger brother Hugo. Amicia must protect Hugo, who has mysterious powers, while discovering the truth behind their mother's research and the plague decimating their world. Gameplay combines stealth, puzzle-solving, and resource management to evade merciless enemies, both human and rodent, in this dark, compelling adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+11

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 18,956 reviews

story9.6k positive mentions

replayability114 negative mentions

story
16,396 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
2%
The story of "A Plague Tale: Innocence" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, following siblings Amicia and Hugo as they navigate a plague-ridden medieval France while evading the Inquisition. Players appreciate the strong character development, atmospheric setting, and the bond between the protagonists, which adds a heartfelt layer to the grim circumstances they face. While some critiques mention predictability and linearity, the overall consensus is that the story is compelling and beautifully told, making it a standout experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “Amazing story, definitely on par with some of the best written games out there.”
- “A captivating story with gorgeous graphics and wonderful voice acting.”
- “The story is really worth it, the visuals are often stunning, albeit more often than not horrific, and the voice acting was my favorite part.”
- “The world is quite interesting, though the story and characters felt a bit mediocre.”
- “The story is alright but falls short a bit in the middle/towards the end.”
- “The story is very linear, and it will have you glued to your screen for the first few hours.”
gameplay
6,719 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The gameplay of "A Plague Tale: Innocence" is characterized by a blend of stealth, puzzle-solving, and light combat mechanics, primarily revolving around the protagonist's use of a sling and the unique rat mechanics that add tension and strategy. While many players appreciate the engaging narrative and atmospheric visuals, some criticize the gameplay for being simplistic, linear, and occasionally repetitive, with a reliance on trial-and-error mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize story and character development over complex gameplay mechanics.
- “The rat horde mechanic is very interesting and used in some inventive ways that continue to progress through to the end.”
- “Absolute gem of a game with a great mixture of Tomb Raider and Splinter Cell mechanics.”
- “It strikes a great balance between narrative and interesting gameplay.”
- “Boring gameplay; the story was maybe okay (did not get far enough to properly assess) but too boring to play.”
- “The gameplay is a bit lackluster and the dialogue can be cringe at times.”
- “The stealth mechanics, which are supposed to stand at the core of the experience, are so poorly executed that they shatter any sense of immersion.”
graphics
4,452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
25%
1%
The graphics of "A Plague Tale: Innocence" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual fidelity and atmospheric design, effectively capturing the grim yet beautiful essence of medieval France. Players have praised the game's detailed environments, impressive lighting, and character models, which contribute to an immersive storytelling experience. While some critiques mention minor issues with character animations and occasional graphical glitches, the overall presentation is considered top-tier, making it a standout title in terms of visual artistry.
- “A captivating story with gorgeous graphics and wonderful voice acting.”
- “Absolutely dense atmosphere with beautiful graphics, great soundtrack, and insanely good voice acting.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the overall sound captured the immersion of this world the writers have created.”
- “The graphics are remarkable; however, if players delve deeper into the world that is being graphically projected, they will start to perceive the ugliness of poorly implemented textures, model clipping, and frequently reused assets.”
- “The graphics are very pretty, but maybe the odd animations of the rats partly ruin this because you can't help but be distracted by a spinning rat crazily.”
- “The graphics, while decent, are beginning to show their age, and the gameplay lacks depth, making it hard to recommend without reservations.”
music
2,246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
1%
The music in "A Plague Tale: Innocence" has been widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's emotional depth and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the exceptional orchestral score, which features a blend of string instruments that perfectly complements the narrative's tension and beauty, making it a standout aspect of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a masterpiece, significantly contributing to the game's storytelling and emotional impact.
- “The musical score is a masterpiece and I have listened to the soundtrack numerous times after finishing the game.”
- “The music was so good and was on point with the moment-to-moment action and captured the right mood in my opinion.”
- “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere flawlessly, intensifying the emotions and amplifying the impact of key moments.”
- “Unfortunately, the poor gameplay, rather boring story, and awful gameplay and music make it a fairly average production.”
- “The music kind of sticks with you for a bit because it's an emotional game, and the music does well to tie into it.”
- “The music is okay, but it lacks variation and can become monotonous.”
atmosphere
1,522 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The atmosphere in "A Plague Tale: Innocence" is widely praised for its dense, immersive quality, effectively capturing the grim realities of 14th-century France during the plague. Reviewers highlight the stunning graphics, haunting soundtrack, and exceptional voice acting that together create a beautifully oppressive environment, enhancing the emotional weight of the story. The game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and despair, while also showcasing moments of beauty, makes it a standout experience for players who appreciate atmospheric storytelling.
- “The atmosphere is set and used masterfully with the rats, plague, and overall bleakness.”
- “The game excels in atmosphere, with stunning visuals and a moody soundtrack that perfectly capture the dark, oppressive environment.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, the forest or the city feel so real.”
- “The atmosphere is dark and oppressing, but no matter how bad it gets, there is always a ray of hope, something uplifting; a path forward.”
- “The atmosphere of this game and the overall 'feel' is very unique.”
- “The atmosphere is really dark, there are some gory scenes, like the enemies that you kill by attracting the rats on them for let them being eaten.”
emotional
1,116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "A Plague Tale: Innocence" is widely praised for its deeply engaging narrative centered on the bond between siblings Amicia and Hugo, set against a grim backdrop of medieval France during the plague. Players report a powerful emotional journey filled with heartwarming and heartbreaking moments, enhanced by stunning visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and strong character development. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a lack of emotional depth in certain scenes, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings, making it a memorable and impactful experience.
- “A plague tale: innocence is a beautifully crafted game that offers a haunting and emotional journey through a plague-ridden medieval France.”
- “The narrative is the heart of 'A Plague Tale: Innocence.' It tells a gripping and emotional story about survival, family, and the bond between siblings.”
- “The emotional journey of Amicia and Hugo, set against the backdrop of a plague-ridden medieval France, makes for a memorable and impactful gaming experience.”
- “Unfortunately, the poor gameplay, rather boring story, and awful music make it a fairly average production.”
- “A boring story with even more boring gameplay.”
- “A boring story that by the end makes you not care about its characters.”
replayability
386 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
59%
30%
The game's replayability is generally considered low due to its linear narrative and lack of significant choices or alternate paths, making it feel more like a one-time experience. While some players mention the potential for revisiting the game to collect achievements or hidden items, the overall sentiment is that the story-driven nature limits the incentive to replay. Many reviewers recommend waiting for a sale, as the short playtime and minimal replay value do not justify the full price.
- “While its combat and replayability may have room for improvement, the overall experience is one of emotional depth and immersive storytelling that is not to be missed.”
- “The game offers some replayability, to get collectibles and stuff, but it didn't really affect anything in the game except providing some trivia dialogue.”
- “I believe that this game will have some replay value for me, as I would like to play again trying to get all the trophies and collectible items the next time around.”
- “While the game offers a deeply engaging and emotional experience, its linear narrative and lack of branching paths may limit replayability for some players.”
- “The game is extremely linear, with little to no side quests, is fairly easy and (sadly) contains very little replay value (you can replay chapters to collect missing trinkets but that's it).”
- “This game has absolutely zero replayability.”
optimization
313 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
44%
11%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and stable frame rates across various hardware configurations. However, some users experienced occasional stuttering and performance issues, particularly in graphically intensive scenes, indicating that optimization may vary depending on individual systems. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game's visuals and performance are often praised as impressive, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience.
- “Its optimization is a marvel, ensuring smooth and consistent frame rates.”
- “The performance and gameplay of this game surpass the passing mark, standing out from the average.”
- “The graphics are breathtaking, and do not eat up system performance.”
- “So terrible optimization!!!”
- “The performance is bad with constant stutters.”
- “Despite the graphical glitches and performance issues, this game is top-notch and extremely worthy of both your time and money if you've been on the fence about getting it.”
character development
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
3%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, particularly in the relationships between the main characters, Amicia and Hugo. Many reviewers highlight the strong narrative and well-crafted character arcs that draw players into the story, making them genuinely care about the characters' journeys. However, some critiques mention that certain characters lack sufficient development, leaving their arcs feeling rushed or underexplored. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling and character dynamics, contributing to an immersive experience.
- “The writing is top-notch, and the character development is deep and nuanced, drawing players into their world and making their plight deeply personal.”
- “The character development is exceptional, and you genuinely care about their journey in this harsh, plague-infested world.”
- “A Plague Tale: Innocence is a love letter to anyone who enjoys story-driven games with strong character development.”
- “I think the character development is poorly executed, and the gameplay itself is quite bad.”
- “They wanted to do a game with the same plot and gravitas as The Last of Us (but in 14th century France, with the main characters as French-accented children) but with virtually none of the character development or coherent world-building.”
- “The character development felt a bit off too but nothing too annoying that should prevent you from enjoying the game.”
grinding
257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
26%
69%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can often feel tedious and repetitive, particularly during combat and stealth sections, leading to frustration for some players. While the narrative and visuals are praised, many found the gameplay mechanics, especially in later chapters, to be slow and lacking in engagement, with some sections requiring multiple retries that detracted from the overall experience. However, a few players noted that the story's compelling nature helped mitigate the tedium, making it worthwhile for those invested in the plot.
- “This was my second playthrough of Innocence and my first time 100%ing it. It only took me eleven hours, wasn't tedious, wasn't too long, but also left me feeling like I got my money's worth (not that this game costs a lot nowadays).”
- “The puzzles are rewarding when solved and the sneaking isn't tedious in the slightest, quite fun actually.”
- “Game has a lot of lore, no grinding and an amazingly well-developed plotline.”
- “The gameplay is linear and gets a little tedious in the end.”
- “It's just boring; the story was great, the characters are very well written, the music is amazing, and it's one of the best-looking games I've ever played in my entire life. With all of this in mind, the gameplay is just insufferable; it only gets interesting for small chunks of the story, the rest is just horrible, having to play through the majority of the game just feels tedious.”
- “The stealth sections quickly get boring, the fighting is tedious, and some of the moments are straight up annoying.”
stability
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
3%
87%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly when frame rates exceed certain limits. While some users found workarounds, such as capping the frame rate, others experienced significant issues requiring restarts from checkpoints or chapters. However, a subset of players reported smooth experiences with minimal to no glitches, indicating that stability may vary based on individual setups and play styles.
- “Runs perfectly under Linux with Proton 7, no glitches or crashes.”
- “No bugs, no glitches, no crashes...awesome graphics and compelling gameplay.”
- “The game runs great on PC; I was running it at 4K ultra settings and it kept steady at 60fps.”
- “Many glitches that require restarting from a checkpoint or chapter, sometimes requiring a game restart.”
- “This game is littered with glitches; I don't know how anyone could have finished it.”
- “I could not recommend this game because the glitches and bugs that occur are annoying and ruin the immersion and gameplay.”
humor
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
3%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it unintentionally funny due to absurd situations, awkward voice acting, and the comical behavior of characters and enemies, particularly the rats. While some moments are genuinely humorous, others come off as poorly executed, leading to laughter at the game's expense rather than with it. Overall, the blend of dark humor, absurdity, and light-hearted moments creates a unique comedic experience that resonates with players, even if it sometimes detracts from the intended emotional weight of the story.
- “It's a game that will have you laughing, crying, and desperately trying to keep Hugo from getting both of you killed by a tsunami of rats.”
- “The chapter where you play as a 5-year-old toddler, I couldn't stop smiling from the funny juxtaposition of playing this cute tiny baby ninja evading all these (figuratively) demonic inquisitors; you kind of have to play it yourself to see what I mean.”
- “The ending dropped the ball hard for me and the final boss had me laughing at the sheer lunacy of what was going on.”
- “It's not funny.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it just didn't deliver.”
monetization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
79%
15%
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, loot boxes, and downloadable content (DLC), offering a complete and polished experience without the typical monetization pitfalls found in many modern titles. Reviewers appreciate this return to a more traditional gaming model, emphasizing a focus on storytelling and gameplay rather than cash grabs. Overall, it is seen as a refreshing alternative in an industry increasingly dominated by monetization strategies.
- “Good story, good graphics, good gameplay, finished game with little to no bugs, no microtransactions.”
- “No microtransactions, no complications, no bulls***; just a solid and enjoyable play from start to finish.”
- “If anything, to show support for good single-player experiences devoid of multiple cash-grab DLCs and microtransactions (there is a DLC, yes, but that seems to be given to anyone who buys).”
- “Everybody likes to complain about the current state of AAA gaming with its focus on live services and microtransactions to continually extract money from people, but fewer will actually support truly weird, creative projects like these.”
- “A breath of fresh air in a world full of microtransactions.”