INDIKA

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,630 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
INDIKA Game Cover
INDIKA is an utterly unique, psychedelic, and strange title, telling a wonderful, thought-provoking story filled with striking imagery and wonderfully bleak humor.
Starting at $9.95Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

"Indika" is a single-player Horror-Adventure game with an interesting plot and good gameplay, featuring perfect visuals and a spectacular soundtrack. Join a young nun, Indika, on her journey of self-discovery with the devil as her unlikely travel companion. Explore surreal landscapes and uncover Indika's troubled past in 2D pixel art mini-games, tackling unique puzzle elements in this third-person, story-driven game. With its dark sense of humor, "Indika" will make you laugh while immersing you in a wholesome and immersive atmosphere.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,630 reviews
story481 positive mentions
replayability10 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and unique art direction, creating a captivating atmosphere.
  • The narrative is thought-provoking, exploring themes of faith, morality, and personal struggle in a surreal manner.
  • Strong voice acting and well-written dialogue enhance the character development and emotional depth of the story.
  • The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with simple puzzles, which may not appeal to all players.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking around 4-5 hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the price.
  • The ending feels abrupt and leaves many questions unanswered, which may disappoint players seeking closure.
  • story1,236 mentions

    The story of "Indika" is a deeply engaging and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of faith, guilt, and personal struggle through the lens of a troubled nun in a surreal, alternate reality. While the storytelling is praised for its unique style and emotional depth, many players feel the game is too short, leaving them wanting more resolution and development. The combination of striking visuals and philosophical dialogue enhances the experience, making it a compelling choice for those who appreciate narrative-driven games, despite some criticism regarding gameplay mechanics and pacing.

    • “Beautiful story, amazing pace and characters, and everything that it's about just scratches the best part of my brain.”
    • “The story is fantastic and manages the balance between comical and absurd moments perfectly with the very heavy, dramatic themes it features (shame, religion, redemption).”
    • “Indika tells an interesting story about a young nun's struggles with the line between faithful and sinful and does so with grace, showing how world events and fickle humanity can influence faith in its favor or disregard it completely.”
    • “The puzzles are bland, the mini-games aren't super fun, and the story is sort of interesting in a rudimentary way.”
    • “Absolute woeful story that is incredibly disinterested and fails to take any meaningful direction.”
    • “The story ends abruptly in a way that makes the game feel like a long demo.”
  • gameplay510 mentions

    The gameplay of "Indika" is primarily a walking simulator interspersed with simple puzzles and occasional mini-games, which many players found underwhelming and lacking in depth. While some mechanics, like the prayer system that alters the environment, show potential, they are rarely utilized, leading to a sense of missed opportunities. Overall, the gameplay serves more as a vehicle for the narrative rather than an engaging experience, with mixed reviews on its execution and pacing.

    • “The gameplay of Indika starts off slowly with walking simulator vibes, but pretty quickly jumps into the compelling narrative with support from other gameplay like puzzles, chase sequences, and other pretty simple minigames.”
    • “Unique storytelling, great story, beautiful environments, fun and varied gameplay.”
    • “The mix of 3D and 2D, while at first odd, is a great fit and allows a great mix of gameplay and storytelling.”
    • “The gameplay mainly consists of walking through a bleak environment and completing simple puzzles that don't require much thought.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly walking, but a few puzzles or mini-games that are in the game are infuriating, sometimes requiring very precise movements or are super clunky, not sure why they have to be like that - they never felt rewarding to complete, more like a sigh of relief that it's finally over.”
    • “Ultimately, I find the game quite frustrating: I'm totally fine with aspects of story, setting, dialogues and gameplay being lackluster.”
  • graphics375 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning quality, showcasing the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5 with beautiful landscapes, unique art styles, and impressive lighting effects. Many reviewers noted the effective blend of realistic and pixelated visuals, which enhances the game's narrative themes and overall atmosphere. However, some players experienced performance issues and felt that while the graphics were exceptional, they sometimes overshadowed the gameplay and story, leaving a sense of underutilization of the game's mechanics.

    • “Being developed in Unreal Engine 5, the visuals are absolutely gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics are nothing short of stunning, with environments so detailed and atmospheric they feel almost tangible.”
    • “The art style is stunning, with vibrant visuals that bring the game’s world to life.”
    • “While Indika is obviously not the most saturated or colorful game out there and can look somewhat bland in certain areas, the graphics absolutely stand on their own. I personally think the overall colorless and cold vibe adds to the themes of the story perfectly subtly.”
    • “The optimization is terrible and the graphics settings are useless.”
    • “Now, there's the obvious frame drops and to maximize this game's graphic potential you need to have a pretty decent graphics card (3060ti and above, and even with 3060ti you'll have FPS drops).”
  • music159 mentions

    The music in "Indika" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the game's emotional depth and atmosphere, while others found it jarring or not fitting for the setting. Some players highlighted the soundtrack as inventive and impactful, blending various styles, including electronic and 8-bit influences, which contributed to the game's unique experience. Overall, while the sound design is generally well-regarded, opinions on the music range from "good, not great" to "fantastic," indicating a divisive reception among players.

    • “The soundtrack of 'indika' deserves special mention for its ability to enhance the game's emotional resonance.”
    • “The music is really special too and sets the tone perfectly every time.”
    • “It’s rare to find a game where the music so profoundly enhances the mood, oscillating between eerie melodies and rousing orchestral pieces that elevate every moment of gameplay.”
    • “You’re in 18th century Russia and the whole time there is this off-tune techno music that sounds like a cat running across a piano, but somehow worse.”
    • “Good story, bad music, short gameplay.”
    • “The 8-bit music was very jarring along with the frequent, sudden cuts to black between levels.”
  • atmosphere154 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating visuals, haunting sound design, and deep philosophical undertones, creating a unique blend of charm, horror, and introspection. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a surreal and emotionally charged environment, often comparing it to an immersive film experience. While some note performance issues and a lack of gameplay depth, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric elements significantly enhance the narrative and player engagement.

    • “Indika is full of charm, humor, and intellectual conversations, but also horror and great atmosphere.”
    • “Its compelling narrative, coupled with atmospheric visuals and a haunting soundtrack, makes it a standout experience for players seeking a deeper, introspective gaming adventure.”
    • “The graphics are nothing short of stunning, with environments so detailed and atmospheric they feel almost tangible.”
    • “Although the game starts strong with its atmosphere and promising story, it fails to deliver a meaningful experience.”
    • “Just don't expect to find there some crazy deep ideas and horror elements (there is no horror whatsoever, just obscure atmosphere).”
    • “Many people seem to be billing it as a horror game but it's not, although it does delve into some quite dark themes that may rattle people, and the atmosphere throughout the game remains pervasively oppressive despite some twisted humor here and there.”
  • humor126 mentions

    The humor in "Indika" is characterized by a blend of dark, surreal, and absurd elements, often juxtaposing bleak themes with moments of genuine hilarity. Reviewers appreciate its clever use of sarcasm and philosophical undertones, creating a unique narrative experience that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. While some found the humor to be sporadic or overshadowed by the game's serious themes, many enjoyed the quirky, unconventional approach that keeps players engaged and reflective throughout.

    • “Great mix of bleak and funny.”
    • “Indika places you in an alternate and sometimes very bizarre timeline in 19th century Russia as a young nun full of guilt and self-doubt, on a journey that questions general faith and morality, with a healthy mix of dark humor and riveting storytelling.”
    • “It's beautiful, dark, but also humorous and light-hearted sometimes.”
    • “It's not a frightening game, it's not funny either; it's an odd, unsettling in-between, and I find it fascinating.”
  • optimization72 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and bugs that can disrupt gameplay. While some users noted that it runs smoothly on average hardware and praised its visual design, others criticized it for being poorly optimized and lacking polish, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has strong narrative and artistic elements, its technical performance leaves much to be desired.

    • “Great story, good gameplay, fairly well optimized.”
    • “Is pretty well optimized.”
    • “Optimization is ok, played on linux.”
    • “This game definitely is horribly optimized and has shader compilation stutter; developers should be ashamed of themselves.”
    • “The optimization is terrible and the graphics settings are useless.”
    • “Has some tech hiccups with stuttering and occasional frame drops.”
  • emotional62 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is deeply resonant, exploring themes of faith, trauma, and personal reflection through a well-crafted narrative and strong performances. Players report a powerful, often draining emotional journey that combines humor with heart-wrenching moments, enhanced by a masterful soundtrack and striking visuals. While some felt the emotional range of the characters could be deeper, the overall experience is described as unforgettable and thought-provoking, leaving players with lingering feelings and a desire for introspection.

    • “The emotional journey was just too realistic and relatable for me.”
    • “The ending left me emotionally drained, and I'm still processing what lessons I can draw from this story for myself.”
    • “You don't get to say 'that's finished now, time to move on to something else.' You're left bereft of warmth or closure, still aching from the emotional bruises you've suffered throughout the story.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    The game is criticized for its very short length, typically under 4.5 hours, and offers virtually no replayability, with most players noting that the experience feels more like watching a film than engaging in interactive gameplay. While some players enjoyed the narrative and atmosphere, they acknowledged that outside of achievement hunting, there is little incentive to replay the game. Overall, the consensus is that the lack of replay value detracts from its worth, especially given its price.

    • “Though there really isn’t much in terms of replayability, you don’t really need it for this: it’s telling its story and you’re here to indulge.”
    • “I don't really see room for replayability, but the ride was interesting while it lasted.”
    • “Not sure whether 4 to 6 hours of gameplay (if you can even call it that) with a rather low replayability are really worth the price of this eclectic condensate of psychological trauma, but I enjoyed it.”
    • “Outside of achievements, there is no replayability whatsoever.”
    • “Game is way too short at under 4.5 hours and no replayability as there is nothing you can do differently here.”
    • “It's also a little pricey for a game with virtually no replay value and little gameplay.”
  • grinding28 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game's puzzles are often tedious and lack complexity, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive tasks, such as fetching items multiple times. While some puzzles fit the game's narrative, the overall experience is bogged down by simplicity and length, leading to a sense of monotony. Despite these issues, the game may appeal to those who prioritize story and atmosphere over engaging gameplay.

    • “I was annoyed when you have to fetch a bucket of water 5 times when you can get the point across of it being 'tedious' with 3. Plus, because of the font choice in the UI, it can be misread as needing to get water 8 times. Only in one instance of the player fetching the water is the voice actually speaking with you, so it gets boring fast.”
    • “There are some things to like about this game, but it gets bogged down with tedious puzzles and lengthy philosophical conversations.”
    • “You will be inundated with invisible walls, rudimentary puzzles, cutscenes, and tedious platforming.”
  • stability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report smooth performance without major issues, others experience minor glitches, frame drops, and stutters, particularly during transitions and camera changes. The developers have acknowledged these concerns and provided a troubleshooting guide, indicating ongoing support for optimization. Despite these issues, many players find the game visually appealing and relatively bug-free at launch.

    • “The graphics are quite good for a seemingly AA game: quite good lighting in particular and no major issues other than some AA jank with animations. This is not a AAA polished game, but it's totally nice looking, not that demanding on your system (by the way, nice settings menu), and bug-free at launch (oh my god, that's a miracle right there in this day and age).”
    • “I have a Nvidia RTX 4050, Core i7, and 16GB RAM and do not understand why this game has frame drops, stutters in gameplay, and micro freezes in the menu.”
    • “The game was too buggy at the time.”
    • “I also experienced some small glitches and stutters; the optimization feels just okay.”
  • character development11 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, with well-designed characters and expressive animations enhancing the experience. While the main character's growth is particularly appreciated, some players find the ending lacking in clarity and closure. Overall, the character development is rated positively, with a score of 8/10, highlighting its contribution to the game's unique charm.

    • “I loved the main character development and I honestly liked the pixel art parts; they are a bit random at the start but they contribute greatly to the game's uniqueness.”
    • “They capture that very well for a kind of an AA game, and the visual character design and voice acting performance support that all the way.”
    • “Character development: 8/10”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The reviews do not provide specific insights into the monetization aspect of the game, focusing instead on the game's visual details and the impact of its trailer. Therefore, no clear conclusions about monetization can be drawn from the provided texts.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy INDIKA

Play time

5hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 24 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News