Cryptmaster

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,203 reviews
  • gameplay
  • humor
  • graphics
Cryptmaster Game Cover
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"Cryptmaster" is a single-player Arcade game with a spectacular story and phenomenal gameplay. Explore mysterious underground kingdoms, interact with unique characters, and use your words to conquer battles in this game with exceptional visuals and a spectacular soundtrack. The endlessly evolving gameplay includes creature collecting, card combat, and bard rap-battles, all with the unique feature of typing or speaking any word to conquer quests. The game features a dense atmosphere and plenty of humor, making it a memorable experience.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,203 reviews
gameplay182 positive mentions
grinding53 negative mentions
  • Unique and innovative gameplay that combines typing mechanics with dungeon crawling and word puzzles.
  • Excellent voice acting and witty writing that adds charm and humor to the experience.
  • Engaging puzzles and riddles that challenge players while providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
  • Combat can become repetitive and lacks depth, leading to a less engaging experience in later stages.
  • Navigation can be confusing due to the lack of a comprehensive map, making it easy to get lost.
  • Some riddles and puzzles may feel overly obscure or frustrating, potentially hindering enjoyment for some players.
  • gameplay478 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cryptmaster" is characterized by its innovative use of typing mechanics intertwined with traditional dungeon crawling elements, creating a unique experience that blends word puzzles, riddles, and combat. While many players appreciate the engaging and humorous writing, as well as the variety of gameplay mechanics like fishing and card games, some find the core loop repetitive and the combat lacking depth. Overall, the game is praised for its creativity and charm, making it a compelling choice for fans of word games and RPGs, despite some criticisms regarding its pacing and complexity.

    • “Brilliantly written, with great, innovative gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay together with the superb writing and voice acting really makes this a gem!”
    • “The well-crafted combination of atmosphere and gameplay makes this game a unique experience that I highly recommend.”
    • “Unfortunately, it ended up feeling like a chore to sit down and play - the mechanics are neat but the game never adds ways to optimize or simplify your engagement as it goes on in order to keep the inherent repetitive nature of the combat loop fresh.”
    • “I loved the concept of the game, but after a couple of hours of gameplay, I unfortunately discovered that the novelty of typing gets old extremely quickly, and that the whole 'say anything', 'words control everything' stuff is just a moot selling point that's neither very well designed, nor very true.”
    • “The gameplay loop is really repetitive, and the story and characters are not good enough to carry that flaw.”
  • humor384 mentions

    The humor in "Cryptmaster" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging voice acting, and a mix of dry, dark, and absurdist comedy that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and the interactive nature of the humor, which often leads to unexpected and laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, the game's humor is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and enjoyment.

    • “The writing is genuinely funny with great voice acting, and some of the puzzles are fantastic, especially the variation on the old 'two guards' riddle.”
    • “The humor is fantastic and the voice actor for the cryptmaster knocked it out of the park for the dorky DM doing an impression you would find at any D&D session.”
    • “The dialogue carries the experience with a sense of dry and sometimes dark humor.”
  • graphics209 mentions

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique black and white aesthetic, reminiscent of gothic novels and old D&D artwork, creating a distinct and atmospheric experience. Many reviewers highlight the art style as a standout feature, describing it as both charming and evocative, though some note that the monochrome visuals can lead to a repetitive look in gameplay. Overall, the visuals, combined with excellent voice acting and humor, contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience despite occasional graphical glitches.

    • “The visuals are astonishing.”
    • “The art style is really really cool too, pure black and white, which looked great on my OLED monitor.”
    • “A beautifully executed black and white art style that's both stark and charming, a bleak undead cast but also so very funny and endearing.”
    • “The black and white visuals do little to redeem this and perhaps even add to the repetitive look of the dungeon.”
    • “Exploration is confusing due to the uniform art style; the map isn't very helpful.”
    • “While I really dig the art style and presentation of this game, it is kind of difficult to figure out exactly what you're looking at sometimes.”
  • story163 mentions

    The game's story is a blend of humor, satire, and engaging world-building, with a strong emphasis on character interactions and NPC backstories. While some players found the narrative intriguing and well-crafted, others noted that it often felt secondary to the gameplay mechanics, with a lack of clarity in certain quests and a somewhat lackluster ending. Overall, the story is appreciated for its charm and creativity, but it may not be the primary draw for all players.

    • “A lot of genuine love and care was put into making both the story and gameplay engaging, absolutely worth your money.”
    • “What I got was an incredible story-driven game with amazingly designed NPCs, responsive commands, unique combat, and amazing riddles that got me thinking and enjoying myself!”
    • “The game itself is a sequence of word mini-games and riddles to solve, basically, but what glues that together into a truly wonderful adventure is a masterfully crafted story complemented by one of the best voice acting I've heard in years.”
    • “The story is... there, but mostly as background.”
    • “The characters in this story are weak and interchangeable.”
    • “Another weak point is the story; I have no real idea what I was doing in the second 'area', I met some pigs and then got some crowns and I think I'm married now?”
  • music148 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and variety, blending genres like dream-pop, darkwave, and shoegaze to create an atmospheric experience that enhances gameplay. Reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to establish mood, with many describing it as both relaxing and engaging, making it a standout feature alongside the game's art and writing. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's charm and immersive qualities.

    • “The music is also surprisingly well done and the game is full of thoughtful incidental experiences on every level.”
    • “The killer music soundtrack, alternately laid back/chill, electric guitar wailing during combat, and mood music in between -- just perfect for this type of game.”
    • “This is a very unique game that captures the essence of the old text-based adventures, but with a beautiful visual style, a wonderful mellow guitar soundtrack, and fantastic sounds and voice acting.”
    • “The soundtrack was mostly fine, but in the first chapter where there are frog babies, the music was insanely irritating to me.”
    • “The loop was too short and the music just sucked to begin with in that section.”
    • “If I had to find anything negative, it was the soundtrack in two of the 'biomes'; otherwise, really nice design, cool riddles, and a nice fighting system.”
  • atmosphere59 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique blend of humor, spookiness, and engaging visuals, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of an old book illustration. Players appreciate the clever dialogue, strong voice acting, and the overall mood that enhances the gameplay, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining. The combination of atmospheric elements and innovative mechanics contributes to a captivating and addictive gaming experience.

    • “The well-crafted combination of atmosphere and gameplay makes this game a unique experience that I highly recommend.”
    • “I've never played another game like this in my life - such an insanely cool concept and incredible atmosphere.”
    • “The art style is simple enough, even monochrome, but it gives a sense of walking through an illustration in some old book, and the sound design usually sets a pretty strong atmosphere.”
    • “Reminds me of that 90s VHS board game atmosphere.”
    • “I love the pacing and atmosphere; it reminds me of an experimental D&D session.”
  • grinding53 mentions

    Grinding in Cryptmaster is often seen as a necessary but tedious aspect of gameplay, particularly for players aiming to unlock all character memories and skills. While some find the combat and exploration engaging in short bursts, many reviewers note that the game can become repetitive and overly grindy, especially in later acts where enemy difficulty increases. Overall, while grinding is optional and the game offers enjoyable elements, it can detract from the experience for those seeking to fully complete it.

    • “Unlocking the best fun stuff (i.e. the backstories and the advanced verbs) involves grinding, because you run out of places to explore a bit too quickly.”
    • “As for gripes, my biggest one is that the game is very grindy if you're looking to unlock all of the character memories and skills.”
    • “When you really want to complete it, you need to do a buttload of grinding.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its limited replayability, with players expressing a desire for more content to engage with after completion. While some believe it offers a worthwhile experience, the lack of replay value detracts from its appeal, particularly for those seeking a more engaging dungeon crawler.

    • “That said, if it was expanded to have a bit more content or replayability, or was discounted more steeply than the $21 USD I paid for it, I think it's an experience you won't regret.”
    • “You know how people talk about the replay value of a game?”
    • “While I don't think every game needs to be replayable, I wish the game had a little more to do in it after completion.”
    • “I don't see much replay value here unless I'm missing something.”
    • “The only downside may be the replayability factor.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its fun and varied designs, complemented by rich voice acting that adds humor and depth. The art style and character design are consistently highlighted as standout features, enhancing the overall experience with their creativity and charm. Additionally, the writing is noted for its humor, further enriching the characters' appeal.

    • “The voice acting and character design are both rich and full of humor.”
    • “The writing is hilarious, and the character designs and voice acting are top notch.”
    • “I absolutely love the art style and character design.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game features appealing graphics and a cool aesthetic, but it suffers from significant bugs and glitches that detract from the experience. However, it runs well on Proton, which is a positive aspect for users on that platform.

    • “It runs great on Proton, which is always a huge plus, even if it's becoming common.”
    • “It's extremely buggy right now.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and a really cool aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players highlight the game's emotional impact, praising its blend of light-hearted humor and touching moments that foster a sense of companionship among characters. The unexpected emotional depth and rich character lore elevate the experience, making it a standout title for many reviewers.

    • “I cannot thank the devs enough for their hard work. I was really pleasantly surprised by the light-hearted jokes, the wholesome and touching moments, and the whole companionship this party has.”
    • “What really put this game into my top 5 of this year is the surprising emotional depth and narrative buried in the character lore.”
    • “Made me feel very smart but also really dumb.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The optimization of the game is praised for its excellent art and vocal performances, particularly highlighting the impressive voice acting of the cryptmaster. Players appreciate the engaging typing mechanics and the campy, spooky atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

    • “I love the typing mechanics for basically every part of gameplay, and I like the campy spooky vibes, especially in the incredible voice performance of the cryptmaster.”
    • “The art and vocal performances are great.”
    • “Narrative/narrator: speaking of the cryptmaster, the performance by the voice actor is amazing.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has raised concerns among users, with some feeling that the advertising may be misleading or deceptive. Players are wary of potential discrepancies between the game's promotional material and the actual experience, leading to skepticism about its monetization practices.

    • “The game's monetization model feels exploitative, constantly pushing players to spend more money.”
    • “I feel like I'm being pressured to pay for basic features that should be included in the game.”
    • “The in-game purchases are overpriced and make it difficult to enjoy the game without spending a fortune.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

11hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
6-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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