A Plague Tale: Innocence

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A Plague Tale: Innocence is a single player action adventure game with fantasy, drama and historical themes. It was developed by Asobo Studio and was released on May 14, 2019. It received very positive reviews from both critics and players.

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.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 23,415 reviews

story11.6k positive mentions

replayability124 negative mentions

The game features a deeply emotional narrative and rich character development, particularly in the bond between siblings Amicia and Hugo.
The graphics and atmosphere are stunning, effectively capturing the grim yet beautiful setting of medieval France, complemented by a haunting soundtrack.
The absence of microtransactions and a focus on delivering a complete gaming experience is refreshing and appreciated by players.

The gameplay is often criticized for being repetitive, linear, and at times frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
Many players report significant stability issues, including bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay and immersion.
The character development is seen as inconsistent, with some reviewers finding the characters one-dimensional and lacking depth.

story
20,148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The story of "A Plague Tale: Innocence" is widely praised for its emotional depth and compelling narrative, focusing on the bond between siblings Amicia and Hugo as they navigate a plague-ridden medieval France. Players are drawn into a gripping tale filled with themes of survival, family, and sacrifice, enhanced by strong character development and atmospheric storytelling. While the gameplay mechanics receive mixed reviews, the overall experience is often described as a beautifully crafted journey that resonates long after the game ends.
- “The story is so powerful and emotional that it completely pulls you in.”
- “The story pulled me in right from the start — dark, emotional, and beautifully told.”
- “A plague tale: innocence is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling.”
- “It's quite sad, but the story alone can't hold me to force myself to play this 'game' as much as I want to.”
- “The story is linear and you beat puzzles or challenges to get to the next checkpoint and progress.”
- “The story itself is packed with cliches that anyone who has seen more than a handful of movies will recognize from a mile away.”
gameplay
8,462 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
55%
8%
The gameplay of "A Plague Tale: Innocence" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its blend of stealth mechanics, puzzle-solving, and narrative-driven elements. While some find the gameplay engaging and innovative, particularly with the unique rat mechanics, others criticize it for being repetitive, simplistic, and overly linear, often feeling more like a guided experience than a true game. Overall, the game's strong story and atmosphere tend to overshadow its gameplay shortcomings, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize narrative over complex mechanics.
- “The gameplay is smooth, like butter on ice, just watch out for the archers; they've been trained by special forces and will snipe you through the tiniest of gaps. If you want a good story game that gives you options on how to tackle certain situations alongside an amazing adventure, pick this up, you won't regret it.”
- “The gameplay blends stealth, light puzzles, and resource management in a way that feels intuitive and satisfying.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of stealth, puzzle-solving, and light survival mechanics, making every moment intense and immersive.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay is obnoxious.”
- “The gameplay is passable; it's initially somewhat entertaining but borders on frustrating and unintuitive frequently, especially towards the latter half.”
- “The gameplay itself does stink.”
graphics
5,499 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
25%
1%
The graphics of *A Plague Tale: Innocence* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual fidelity and immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the grim yet beautiful setting of medieval France. Players have praised the game's detailed environments, impressive lighting, and character models, which contribute to a deeply engaging narrative experience. While some minor graphical issues and facial animations have been noted, the overall aesthetic and artistic direction are considered top-notch, making it a standout title in terms of visual presentation.
- “This game is graphically beautiful with a fascinating premise.”
- “A Plague Tale excels in combining visuals with a powerful soundtrack to create a wonderfully immersive atmospheric experience.”
- “Graphically, it's also a standout; crisp, clean, excellent lighting and shadows, as well as reflections out of rainwater puddles that bring an incredible amount of immersion.”
- “Great game with a beautiful story, but you can clearly see that the game is older and made by a AA studio when you look at the graphics and animations.”
- “The graphics are okay, but if a little more attention was paid to the faces and eyes when speaking, I think it would be acceptable for a game over 6 years old.”
- “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.”
music
2,777 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The music in "A Plague Tale: Innocence" has been widely praised for its haunting and immersive quality, effectively enhancing the game's emotional depth and atmosphere. Composed by Olivier Deriviere, the soundtrack features a blend of orchestral elements, particularly strings, that adapt dynamically to the gameplay, intensifying moments of tension and providing a poignant backdrop to the narrative. Overall, players find the music to be a standout aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the storytelling and emotional engagement throughout the experience.
- “A Plague Tale excels in combining visuals with a powerful soundtrack to create a wonderfully immersive atmospheric experience.”
- “The music deserves just as much credit. It perfectly underscores the drama and emotions accompanying the characters.”
- “The haunting soundtrack by Olivier Deriviere elevates the emotional weight of the story, with melancholic strings and tense, atmospheric tracks that complement the narrative perfectly.”
- “The music deserves just as much credit.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the game’s strongest aspects.”
- “The music plays a vital role in creating the thick atmosphere of the game as it changes from calming and upbeat seamlessly to dark and ominous.”
atmosphere
1,938 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The atmosphere in "A Plague Tale: Innocence" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting quality, effectively capturing the grim realities of medieval France during the plague. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, detailed environments, and a powerful soundtrack that together create a deeply emotional and tense experience. The combination of atmospheric storytelling, character development, and sound design contributes to a compelling narrative that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
- “A Plague Tale excels in combining visuals with a powerful soundtrack to create a wonderfully immersive atmospheric experience.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible too — haunting, but also strangely beautiful.”
- “The game masterfully portrays the bleak and war-torn landscapes of 14th-century France, using incredible lighting and detailed environments to immerse players in its dark, atmospheric world.”
- “The atmosphere is dark and creepy, and then other times it's bright and beautiful.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is really brutal and haunting.”
- “The atmosphere is very convincing, and the story is powerful.”
emotional
1,520 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 the harrowing backdrop of the Black Plague. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from heartbreak to joy, as the story unfolds with powerful character development and poignant moments that resonate long after the game ends. The combination of stunning visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and immersive storytelling creates a memorable emotional journey that many players find unforgettable.
- “The story is so powerful and emotional that it completely pulls you in.”
- “It made me feel emotions I couldn’t even explain — just pure heartbreak and beauty at the same time.”
- “The bond between the siblings is the emotional core of the journey, and watching their relationship evolve is genuinely engaging.”
- “Unfortunately, the poor gameplay, rather boring story, and awful music make it a fairly average production.”
- “A boring story with even more boring gameplay.”
- “Boring story that by the end makes you not care about its characters.”
replayability
442 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
60%
28%
The game's replayability is generally considered low, with many reviewers noting its linear narrative and lack of significant choices or alternate endings. While some players may return for collectibles or achievements, the consensus is that the experience is primarily a one-time journey, akin to watching a movie. As a result, many recommend purchasing the game at a discount rather than at full price, given its short playtime of around 10-15 hours and minimal replay value.
- “The game also doesn’t have difficult achievements, and chapters are easily replayable for any missed collectibles, making it an easy recommendation for completionists.”
- “Could be more replayability value (new collectibles/possibly different choices) but to be honest, it's worth replaying every few years anyway just for the experience.”
- “There is some replay value, as there are many upgrades I did not have unlocked by the end game, as well as several collectibles hidden around the world that I did not find upon completion.”
- “It's hard to justify at 40€ with around ~10 hours playtime with little replay value, but if you consider it a ~10 hour long movie, the price isn't too bad.”
- “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).”
optimization
432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
44%
10%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback from players. Many report excellent performance, with smooth frame rates even on lower-end systems, while others experience stuttering and performance issues, particularly on high settings or specific hardware configurations. Despite some inconsistencies, the majority agree that the game is well-optimized for its graphical fidelity, allowing for an immersive experience without significant technical disruptions.
- “The game runs very smoothly, with great optimization that lets you enjoy its detailed and atmospheric environments without distraction.”
- “Performance is excellent; I played it on the Steam Deck at a smooth 60 fps.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the game is well optimized (steady fps even with rats on screen), and the set pieces were great.”
- “Optimization is really bad and it stutters to hell with 4090 on 4K ultra.”
- “The game is poorly optimized; I found myself getting low frames while I have a high-end PC.”
- “Despite having a custom-made PC that was pretty top of the line after this game was made, I experienced some performance issues and couldn't run on max settings.”
grinding
329 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
29%
67%
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium throughout the gameplay, particularly in the stealth mechanics, puzzles, and combat, which many players found repetitive and frustrating. While the story and visuals received praise, the gameplay often felt like a chore, with numerous players expressing that they needed to "grind" through sections or replay chapters to achieve completion. Overall, the game is described as engaging at times but marred by tedious mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “There's no grinding at all.”
- “I would have to say this is by far the worst game I have ever played in my life. It is so confusing at times considering it has no waypoint markers or anything in that regard. Resources are so scarce that you can't upgrade everything, and even if you do manage to find the resources, you either run out using it to craft rock ammunition or vice versa. The controls are menacing at best, and the chapters are very linear. Some are very short, and others are so tediously long that most of the time you are spent sneakily avoiding soldiers.”
- “The AI of both rat waves and human enemies is genuinely horrendous. It’s even worse than what Horizon Zero Dawn used to have. In that game, dumb human enemies were just puppets to play around with, as it had amazing stealth and battle mechanics to have fun with. However, Plague Tale suggests a very tedious, brain-numbing experience of dealing with them over and over, in the same way, with any fun sucked out of the process entirely.”
- “The game looks amazing, but the story is nothing special. The final fight is tedious, just like all of them are. You'd get the same experience on YouTube.”
character development
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, particularly in the relationship between the main characters, Amicia and Hugo. Many reviewers highlight the natural evolution of characters throughout the story, with significant moments that enhance player attachment and investment in their journeys. While some critiques mention occasional shortcomings in character arcs or pacing, the overall consensus is that the game excels in delivering a compelling narrative enriched by strong character development.
- “The character development is exceptional, and you genuinely care about their journey in this harsh, plague-infested world.”
- “What truly sets this game apart, however, is its deeply emotional narrative and rich character development.”
- “The character development was superb, especially for the protagonists, Amicia, with her troubling encounters with moral dilemmas, and also her commendable courage in times of crisis, and Hugo, with his charming, doe-eyed innocence and sense of wonder with the world.”
- “I think the character development is poorly executed, and the gameplay itself is quite bad.”
- “The characters themselves are rather one-dimensional and there's little perceivable character development happening.”
- “The premise is interesting, but character development is non-existent.”
stability
201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
3%
87%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, particularly in later chapters. Common issues include characters getting stuck, cutscenes failing to trigger, and problems related to high frame rates. While some players found workarounds, such as adjusting settings or restarting checkpoints, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from significant stability problems that detract from the experience.
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is stale and buggy, and straight up not fun.”
- “I could not recommend this game because the glitches and bugs that occur are annoying and ruin the immersion and gameplay.”
- “The game is a little buggy; I had to reset to checkpoint a couple of times because NPC characters got stuck, or cutscenes didn't trigger.”
humor
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
1%
1%
The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, with players finding laughter in absurd situations, quirky character interactions, and the comical behavior of NPCs and enemies. Many reviews highlight the amusing dialogue between characters, particularly the sibling duo, and the ridiculousness of certain gameplay mechanics, such as the "rat-nados" and the antics of guards. Overall, the game balances dark themes with lighthearted humor, creating a unique experience that elicits both laughter and emotional engagement.
- “This game is hilarious.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “It's not funny.”
monetization
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
78%
16%
The monetization aspect of the game has been positively received, with many users praising its absence of microtransactions, DLCs, and live service elements. Reviewers appreciate the focus on delivering a complete gaming experience without the pressure of in-game purchases, contrasting it with the prevalent monetization strategies in the industry. Overall, players find this approach refreshing and commend the developers for prioritizing quality over profit-driven tactics.
- “No microtransactions, no complications, no bulls***; just a solid and enjoyable play from start to finish.”
- “A breath of fresh air in a world full of microtransactions.”
- “I'm glad the developers made it; it's always nice to see attempts at high quality indie games without microtransactions and season passes.”
- “Plus, many games deceive the buyer; for example, in soulslike it says adventure or impossible to complete without paid modifications. In co-op, it doesn't mention that it's only co-op in a franchise that had a single-player campaign, or the game is just very boring with cool advertising or has an agenda instead of a normal plot with normal characters. The game is easy or well optimized for the first two hours, then problems start and you can't return the game.”
- “In a world where the landscape is nothing but lootboxes, monetization-focused 'games' which really are just psychologically addicting cash machines for corporations like Electronic Arts, Bethesda, Activision, Epic Games, etc. to make obscene amounts of money for as little effort as possible.”
- “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.”

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91%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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12h Median play time

12h Average play time

11h Main story

16h Completionist

10-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 198 analyzed playthroughs

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A Plague Tale: Innocence is a action adventure game with fantasy, drama and historical themes.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 11 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 16 hours to finish. On average players spend around 12 hours playing A Plague Tale: Innocence.

A Plague Tale: Innocence was released on May 14, 2019.

A Plague Tale: Innocence was developed by Asobo Studio.

A Plague Tale: Innocence has received very positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a single player game.

Similar games include A Plague Tale: Requiem, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream, South of Midnight, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and others.

A Plague Tale: Innocence

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