Deceive Inc.

About

Welcome to DECEIVE INC. , a private corporation with complete monopoly over the international espionage market. You can disguise yourself as anyone you meet in an instant, have access to state-of-the-art gadgets the rest of the world can only dream of and possess skills that would make Hollywood super spies jealous. But you are not alone. Rival spies are after the same objective and every single …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,493 reviews

gameplay206 positive mentions

monetization19 negative mentions

gameplay
521 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay of "Deceive Inc." is characterized by a unique blend of stealth mechanics and first-person shooter elements, offering players a dynamic experience that encourages strategic thinking and deception. While the game features well-designed maps and diverse character abilities, some players feel that the emphasis on aggressive play undermines the stealth aspects, leading to a more chaotic experience. Overall, the gameplay loop is engaging and addictive, though it may require patience to master the mechanics and navigate the current balance issues.
- “The gameplay is enriched by state-of-the-art gadgets and the ability to holographically disguise oneself as any character on the map, adding layers of strategy to the combat and movement across the game environment.”
- “The mix of shooting and disguise/deception gameplay is really unique and very fun.”
- “The gameplay loop is just pure and utter fun.”
- “The imbalance in mechanics favors skilled FPS players over those trying to actually play the objectives, making it feel less like the stealth-focused experience it could have been.”
- “Unfortunately, recently most games in my experience have played more like a free-for-all deathmatch—any stealth mechanics are ignored completely and people rush to wipe out the lobby before a single terminal is opened, which honestly has turned me away from playing unless I'm with friends.”
- “The entire stealth and blending in mechanics of the game fall apart the longer you play, becoming more about speed and less about stealth, making a good amount of the game mostly about PvP skill and less about being sneaky and blending in, which was kind of what I wanted from the game.”
graphics
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The game's graphics are characterized by a vibrant, cartoonish art style that complements its lighthearted and retro spy theme, drawing comparisons to titles like Fortnite and Overwatch. While some players note that the graphics can be resource-intensive and may appear dated or simplistic, many appreciate the unique aesthetic and well-crafted environments that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the visuals are praised for their charm and creativity, contributing to a fun and immersive atmosphere.
- “Is honestly a breath of fresh air - from the aesthetics, to the character design/diversity and the general look and feel of the game, is just incredible.”
- “The retro futuristic art style coupled with the music makes the experience so much richer, and the voice actors are also great.”
- “The graphics are pretty but also easy to read.”
- “The only issue is with hardware resources; this is by far the most resource-hungry game I have played in the last few years, even though the graphics are not that crazy realistic.”
- “Imagine making a game in 2023 with such graphics and giving no optimization to it, so every encounter is you completely missing an opponent because of frame drops.”
- “I find myself lowering my graphics settings to play on my PC, but the game will still crash.”
music
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its dynamic and engaging quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience with a funky, spy-themed soundtrack that evolves with the action. Many players find the soundtrack to be a standout feature, describing it as catchy, well-composed, and integral to the game's atmosphere, often comparing it to classic spy films. However, some users note that the menu music can become repetitive, detracting from the otherwise stellar audio experience.
- “The music is incredible, it's a masterpiece!”
- “What ties the game together for me is the dynamic soundtrack; every map has a different track, and as the match progresses, the songs get more complex, making combat more intense.”
- “The music, characters, sound effects, and voiceovers all mix perfectly to create a sneaky and snarky spy game that is dripping with style and charm.”
- “The music gets a little exhausting, though.”
- “Game has a lot of potential, but as of right now this game is a case of 'this $20 soundtrack came with a free game!'.”
- “My issues with the game are that the more the game's meta develops the longer matches get (the first phase needs an earlier cut-off), and also the main menu music is garbage, please either make it the music that plays on the screen where you log into the server or just give us a separate dial just to turn the menu music off.”
story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
81%
7%
The game's story is minimal, primarily revolving around a light narrative of espionage and missions, with players taking on the role of spies completing objectives. While some players appreciate the engaging gameplay and character dynamics, many note the lack of a substantial storyline, with missions often devolving into chaotic combat rather than stealthy espionage. Overall, the narrative serves as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus, leaving players wanting more depth and story content.
- “For years, they made every mission possible - but when Mike retired to raise his baby girl, Amelia, he never predicted that life would come full circle.”
- “Mike and Minkey partner up one last time for their most important mission ever: saving Amelia -- and the world -- from the clutches of the evil Dr. Farley.”
- “All in all, phenomenal game, phenomenal track, phenomenal characters. I hope more can expand on the story and whatnot.”
- “The lack of a story.”
- “The only semblance of a story that we get is from loading screens.”
- “I would just love to have some kind of story to pay attention to and keep coming back for.”
humor
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying its cartoonish art style, funny characters, and the chaotic, comedic situations that arise during gameplay. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings, where players can engage in antics like pretending to be NPCs or sabotaging each other for laughs. Overall, the game is described as a fun and funny experience, perfect for playing with friends, filled with quirky interactions and a lighthearted tone.
- “The game adopts a cartoonish art style that perfectly complements its somewhat goofy and humorous theme.”
- “Pretending to be an NPC is hilarious, and the way they did it is genius.”
- “The game's charm is great, the gunplay and movement feel good, all the agents are viable, and the game smacks you with its sense of humor and tone with the tutorial being sarcastic and focused on comedy.”
optimization
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
63%
14%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting both commendable performance and significant issues. While some users report smooth gameplay at 60fps, particularly on lower settings, others experience frustrating stuttering, frame drops, and bugs, especially on mid-range PCs. Developers are actively working on updates to improve performance, but many players still find optimization lacking, impacting their overall enjoyment.
- “Great quality of design and graphics, optimization is pretty good, and with future updates it will be better.”
- “Performance-wise, it is not as taxing as it runs a constant 60fps, might be slightly lower for old potato laptops/PCs but still playable on those.”
- “The best thing is it's optimized well for controller and mouse & keyboard, and due to the mechanics of the game, you won't need a hefty PC to enjoy it.”
- “Was a really fun game at the start, but I can't get past the glaring optimization issues this game still has months after its release.”
- “Imagine making a game in 2023 with such graphics and giving no optimization to it so every encounter is you completely missing an opponent because of frame drops.”
- “Incredible gameplay, just terrible performance... maybe they'll fix it.”
monetization
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
56%
38%
The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its fair approach to microtransactions and the availability of free currency options, while others criticize the heavy reliance on paid cosmetics and battle passes for a $20 title. Many users express a desire for the game to be free-to-play to attract a larger player base, citing a lack of advertisement as a significant issue. Overall, while some find the monetization non-predatory, concerns about it becoming a cash grab persist among the community.
- “Very fun game to play with friends and the monetization is done very well.”
- “Crazy, good and very fair monetization, great game, unique :)”
- “What monetization there is, is also very pro-consumer; all battle passes will remain available to purchase and complete forever.”
- “The devs don't care, this is a money grab, as you can clearly tell by the monetization.”
- “There's way too many microtransactions for a paid game.”
- “Additionally, multiple skins have been removed for every playable character, presumably to be added to the in-game microtransaction store instead of unlocked through regular gameplay, which is especially disappointing monetization for a game I've already paid to purchase.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some players find it enjoyable and relatively polished, the overall consensus is that it suffers from significant stability issues, including unbalanced characters and problematic mechanics that detract from the experience. Despite these concerns, a few reviews note that the game runs smoothly at times, suggesting potential for improvement.
- “Runs great.”
- “It's well-polished, plays smoothly and is relatively bug-free. Player counts and queue times are good, and it's just good fun.”
- “Aside from that, it seems like I'm lucky if I'm able to make it through a match without it crashing (the server freezes and eventually the game kicks me back to the lobby - it's not my PC/game crashing).”
- “This leaves a sour taste in my mouth as I've got to the finale multiple times and died to, what I see and feel as, laggy and buggy combat mechanics.”
- “They are notorious for buggy games and it shows here so while I still recommend this game, be aware that they seriously need to clean up some bugs before this game can really take off.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
68%
The reviews highlight a significant divide in player experiences regarding grinding; while some find the leveling process fast and enjoyable, others feel it requires excessive time investment, often leading to frustration. Many players express that essential equipment and character upgrades are locked behind tedious grinding, creating an imbalance in gameplay, especially when matched against higher-level opponents. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a double-edged sword, with some appreciating the challenge while others find it overly burdensome.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The equipment that might actually help me last longer is gated behind an absolute slog of grinding via dying with a pittance of earned XP.”
- “Takes a lot of time to grind out any character without XP boost; some characters have absolute garbage starter guns, so grinding is even longer and more painful, with severe imbalance and an established meta that isn't fun.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
24%
18%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse range of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, as well as multiple strategies and outcomes. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay, varied roles, and the combination of stealth and action, which contribute to a fun and addictive experience. However, some users note a lack of content that could limit replay value for certain players.
- “Offers a diverse range of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, enhancing replayability.”
- “The game's replay value is high due to the multiple roles, strategies, and outcomes that players can encounter.”
- “Has their own unique kit and playstyle, which really brings tons of replayability and you can choose to play the game however you want, whether it be sneaking around and stealing the package while blending in with the crowd or chasing down the other rival spies in the game and stealing their hard-earned loot.”
- “Good game but severely lacks content and replayability.”
- “Surprisingly, the gunplay feels really good, and the variety of characters, guns, perks, and gadgets really lends to the game's replayability.”
- “Furthermore, the game's replay value is high due to the multiple roles, strategies, and outcomes that players can encounter.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its engaging music and vibrant aesthetic, reminiscent of retrofuturistic settings, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the combination of light-hearted elements with suspenseful gameplay, creating a unique environment that encourages creativity and strategy. However, concerns about community toxicity and game management have been noted, potentially detracting from the otherwise enjoyable atmosphere.
- “The music and atmosphere are so goddamn cool.”
- “Crispy gunplay meets a warm, light-hearted atmosphere filled with a sea of NPCs and 10 human spies disguised amongst them.”
- “The game's graphics and sound effects are well-crafted, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that adds to the overall gameplay experience.”
- “The atmosphere and music make you feel like you're in Persona 5.”
- “Breathe of fresh air... for some reason it reminds me of Gotham City Impostors. Don't look it up, they're really not that similar, but it has the same atmosphere and that was one of my favorite games of all time.”
- “Both the music, the atmosphere, the characters, and the behavior of the characters, as well as the tools we use, always reflect the era.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
33%
Character development in the game is praised for its diverse and unique character designs, which are complemented by strong voice acting and a vibrant aesthetic. Players appreciate the attention to detail in character interactions, which adds depth and encourages self-reflection. Overall, the game's art direction and character customization options contribute to an engaging and enjoyable experience.
- “The attention to detail in character designs and the subtle nuances in their interactions deepen the enigma, leaving players questioning the true nature of their identities and the uncanny sense of self-reflection that lingers beneath the surface.”
- “Character design is fun, music and aesthetic is flawless, the overall art direction is very clear and easy to read while still being vibrant and just plain fun to look at.”
- “The retro feel and bright, vibrant colors mean the maps and character designs are striking and fun to play.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters on a deeper level.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which diminished my overall investment in their journeys.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, particularly highlighting the heartbreak of having their hard work undone in critical moments, which adds a layer of intensity and reward for opponents. Despite this emotional turmoil, the game is recommended for its engaging community and diverse gameplay elements.
- “Waited until I had 100 hours to post an honest, non-rushed, emotional review.”
- “However, having all your hard work be undone in the final moments of the game by someone who has gone unnoticed can be heartbreaking, but rewarding for your assailant.”