Inkbound

About

"In /Inkbound/, a fantasy turn-based strategy game, 2-4 players cooperatively save stories in a magical world. Engage in unique simultaneous turn-based combat, create diverse builds from classes, abilities, and items, and enjoy 4-player co-op in the social hub, Atheneum. With humor, beautiful graphics, a splendid soundtrack, and high replayability, the game offers a rich and challenging experience, despite being very grinding."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,360 reviews

gameplay470 positive mentions

grinding74 negative mentions

Inkbound offers a unique blend of turn-based combat and roguelike mechanics, providing a fresh experience for players.
The game features a diverse range of classes and build options, allowing for creative strategies and playstyles.
The developers have shown a commitment to player feedback by removing microtransactions and improving the game based on community input.

The quest system can be convoluted and frustrating, often requiring specific actions that may not align with the player's build or strategy.
Some players find the game too easy, especially in solo mode, leading to a lack of challenge and engagement over time.
The game's narrative and character interactions are often criticized for being uninteresting and poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
1,086 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
3%
Inkbound offers a compelling blend of roguelike mechanics and cooperative turn-based gameplay, praised for its strategic depth and engaging combat. Players appreciate the variety of character classes and build options, although some note a lack of gameplay diversity and repetitive elements over time. Overall, the gameplay is described as addictive and rewarding, with a solid core loop that encourages experimentation and teamwork, despite some minor balance issues and a somewhat convoluted quest system.
- “Inkbound is a masterclass in blending roguelike gameplay with a cooperative twist, delivering an experience that feels fresh and engaging in every session.”
- “Gameplay is addicting and each run feels rewarding.”
- “The gameplay loop is solid enough, with only minor gripes about certain enemies or bosses.”
- “The gameplay just isn't engaging enough for that to be fun.”
- “Overall the lack of gameplay diversity, map diversity, exploration novelty and limited/bad characters make the experience repetitive and grindy.”
- “The gameplay loop also lacks depth.”
story
946 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
73%
9%
The story in Inkbound is described as convoluted and often difficult to follow, with many players feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of quests and dialogue that can detract from the gameplay experience. While some appreciate the creativity and charm of the narrative, others criticize it for being poorly executed, with a quest system that feels grindy and repetitive. Overall, the game offers an intriguing lore and character interactions reminiscent of titles like Hades, but the delivery and clarity of the story leave much to be desired.
- “There's also an amazing amount of original storyline content and fully voiced cutscenes.”
- “The engaging narrative and unique gameplay mechanics make it a standout choice for fans of strategic and story-driven adventures.”
- “The story in this game is also very well done having you jump between different books and talking to a whole cast of characters in a way very reminiscent of Hades.”
- “The story is also really, really long and not all that compelling.”
- “The story is underwhelming, and the characters you perform these tasks simply don't have the draw or charisma to them that makes me want to help them.”
- “The very attractive side characters that made Hades so appealing are replaced with a bunch of losers, and instead of chasing them down in the hope of more interactions like I did in that game, I found myself clicking through the dialogue as quickly as possible to try to get to my quest reward.”
monetization
476 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
80%
8%
The game's monetization model has undergone significant changes, with developers responding to community feedback by completely removing microtransactions and battle passes, which were previously criticized as predatory. Players appreciate this shift towards a more player-friendly approach, allowing for cosmetic unlocks through gameplay rather than purchases, and many have expressed their support for the developers' decision to prioritize player experience over monetization. Overall, the removal of in-game purchases has positively impacted player sentiment, making the game more appealing.
- “I have a lot of respect for the fact that the developers took the feedback on microtransactions into consideration, and eliminated them entirely.”
- “Excellent game, no scummy microtransactions, well enough balance for the genre.”
- “The developers have wholeheartedly abandoned in-game microtransactions and predatory industry practices.”
- “I tried the beta, saw how the design was geared towards monetization, and lost all interest in the game.”
- “I was very happy when they removed all the extra monetization but I still view this game as a colossal bag fumbling.”
- “Buying a game only to see it has a paid battlepass and microtransactions?”
graphics
274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
45%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant and charming art style that enhances the overall experience, while others find it too cartoony or lacking in visual fidelity. Some players appreciate the unique aesthetic and colorful visuals, noting that they contribute to an immersive world, while others criticize the graphics for feeling bland or poorly designed. Overall, the art style is a significant draw for many, though personal preferences vary widely among players.
- “The art style is absolutely stunning, with vibrant visuals that make each area feel alive and immersive.”
- “Beautiful art style and captivating world.”
- “The art style is great, the music is great, and the gameplay is fun.”
- “The graphical fidelity is fine for an indie game, but the art direction, color palette, and look of the cosmetic items is pretty terrible.”
- “I feel as though they might have benefitted from going a more stylized route, since the graphics are....bad.”
- “Daily quests, seasons, and battle passes are way too reminiscent of all the garbage cluttering the games industry today and paired with the fairly poor aesthetics - graphics as well as UI - give the game a very cheap, low-quality feeling.”
replayability
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, diverse builds, and co-op features that enhance the experience. While some reviews note a lack of long-term replay value due to repetitive elements or poor design choices, the majority highlight the game's potential for "just one more run" through various challenges and unlockable content. Despite some criticisms, many players find the replayability to be a significant strength, making it a compelling choice for fans of the roguelike genre.
- “The replayability is off the charts, ensuring you'll keep coming back for 'just one more run.'”
- “An absolutely fantastic roguelite, this game has a tremendous amount of replay value.”
- “This game is a real gem of a roguelike with seemingly endless replayability.”
- “Unfortunately, it has low replay value as a roguelike game because the game itself is not that complicated.”
- “Game is way too basic and low replay value for a game that literally only contains doing the same thing over and over.”
- “This game's got a lot of potential, but its raw simplicity (in its current state) doesn't lend itself well to replayability.”
music
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
3%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the whimsical art style, while others find it lacks distinctiveness and can become repetitive. Some players highlight the quality of the music as a standout feature, comparing it favorably to other titles like "Hades" and "Monster Train," though a few note that it could benefit from more variety, especially in combat scenarios. Overall, the music is generally regarded as good, contributing positively to the gameplay experience, but with room for improvement.
- “The soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, drawing you further into the whimsical yet perilous realms.”
- “Wonderful music, wonderful content, everything just flows together amazingly well.”
- “The music, ambiance, and aesthetic are all incredible in my opinion.”
- “I have no idea what the story is because it is too much, and the combat music gets stale fast.”
- “The background music feels just like background music and not something I'd ever pay attention to; the sound effects are quite good but lack an individualized punch to make you feel like you're engaging with something unique.”
- “They're just sounds and songs that play while you do stuff.”
grinding
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly due to convoluted quest structures and the need to farm specific bosses for progress. While some players enjoy the grind as part of the experience, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the game feel more like a chore than fun. The lack of gameplay diversity and the forced commitment to grinding for unlocks have led to frustration among those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “I would say that the unlock procedure for the aspects (classes) is tedious and takes far too long considering how short the game is.”
- “This would not matter if they could be ignored, but several character classes and many of the strongest vestiges are locked behind them, which forces you to commit to runs specifically to achieve quest results (and often abandoning them halfway through) which feels more like a grindy chore than fun.”
- “If that middle 20 hours of grinding were cut out, I would be able to recommend it, but that's a heck of a slog.”
optimization
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and minimal issues on high-end systems, others experience significant stuttering, frame drops, and a lack of polish, particularly on the Steam Deck. Many reviewers highlight the need for further optimization, especially regarding UI and quest design, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the turn-based gameplay allows for some leniency in performance issues, making it playable even with its shortcomings.
- “Haven't come across any performance or connection issues, and it's overall a very smooth experience.”
- “The performance is pretty fine; the game is highly stylized and uses a not-so-intense art style, so you should have no issues running the game on most high/middle-end machines.”
- “The game can run, and run well, on a calculator -- so these visuals never have to be sacrificed for performance no matter the system you're running.”
- “General lack of polish, terrible UI, incredibly bad quest design, brutal optimization/framerate, and early access levels of content.”
- “Performance tanked going from early access into the 1.0 release.”
- “Lots of stuttering and frame skips.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its quirky setting, engaging dialogue, and entertaining NPCs that avoid forced jokes. The co-op gameplay fosters hilarious moments, especially when players' plans go awry, while the developers' commitment to fun and creativity shines through in the game's design and challenge modes. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the experience, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends.
- “The daily challenge dives with funny setups.”
- “The NPCs have unique and funny personas, and the voice acting is varied and entertaining.”
- “You can trade items and consumables with your teammates; collaboration is key and also sets up hilarious chaos with friends to enjoy the experience, but it's super fun in solo play as well.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
17%
6%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its whimsical yet perilous tone, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and immersive lore. Players appreciate the charming art and moody music, which together create a rich and engaging environment suitable for both single-player and multiplayer experiences. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as crisp, strategic, and deeply immersive, making it a standout feature for fans of the genre.
- “The soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, drawing you further into the whimsical yet perilous realms.”
- “The immersive lore and the marvelous atmosphere.”
- “Awesome world, truly charming atmosphere, always fun to go for the runs!”
- “This is also reflected in the story; while Monster Train could get away with a simple intro to its theme and concept, this game is an RPG which should provide some proper atmosphere.”
character development
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that while the character designs and voice acting are visually appealing and enjoyable, the writing and narrative fail to deliver engaging or witty dialogue. Players appreciate the unique classes and gameplay mechanics, but feel that the overall character development does not reach the same level of quality as other titles in the genre, such as Hades. The game is seen more as a fun, grindy experience rather than one focused on rich storytelling or character arcs.
- “Intuitive unique classes, fun cosmetic character design, great gameplay loop constantly making the game more difficult after each successful run!”
- “Imagine tactical turn-based combat, with telegraphed enemy turns (a-la Into the Breach) with STS style in-run progression and featuring MOBA character designs (in that they are mechanically unique and have interesting internal synergy).”
- “Main game has simple but interactive campaigns with pretty character designs, daily and seasonal missions to gain XP and unlock content, and a higher difficulty option as a deep dive.”
- “Let's face it, this is not Hades, and I can't possibly think of anyone playing this for the witty dialogues and character development.”
- “There are cosmetics that kind of help remedy this, but at the end of the day I think the visual style is great, but the playable character designs are visually poor.”
- “If you want a grindy, technically playable offline MMO Slay the Spire-like game and don't mind the little 'woke' bits of character design and narrative, it's okay.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
Overall, the game is praised for its stability, being described as smooth and virtually bug-free, particularly on the Steam Deck. Reviewers appreciate the complete and polished experience, noting that it does not exhibit the typical issues associated with early access titles. While some mention the presence of microtransactions and a battle pass, they find these elements to be non-intrusive and cosmetic, further emphasizing the game's solid performance.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “Nice art style, smooth and bug-free gameplay.”
- “I mainly play this game on my Steam Deck and it runs great!”
- “This isn't early access, so you get no leeway for a buggy game.”
- “A lot of reviews mention the mtx & battlepass being available the second the game hit early access, which I semi agree with. It's never really the best when a game that's not even fully developed and released is fairly buggy (which thankfully Inkbound isn't, that I've seen at least) and has a fully complete working in-game shop, but comparing to some other games, the mtx and battlepass is extremely unintrusive and cosmetic only.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
Overall, players find the emotional impact of the game lacking, citing unlikable characters and a confusing, superficial story that fails to effectively explore deeper themes like altruism and emotional manipulation. While some enjoy the gameplay mechanics, many feel that the repetitive nature of quests and the randomness in quest structures detract from the overall experience, leaving them feeling that the game overstays its welcome.
- “But it's made me feel like that's because of the way I'm playing/building.”
- “Another reason for my disappointment is that they certainly try to tackle deeper themes such as altruism, duty, emotional manipulation, or child neglect, but the superficial treatment makes the attempt fall flat.”
- “Some fun to be had, but too much RNG in the quest structures, confusing and boring story, and not enough content in my opinion to be worth full price.”
- “Good game and mechanics, but the story is boring.”
- “Some fun to be had, but too much RNG in the quest structures, confusing and boring story, and not enough content in my opinion to be worth full price.”