Inkulinati

This indie game by Yaza Games looks like Pentiment, but its anthropomorphic battles are silly and tactically challenging.

80%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, grinding

85% User Score Based on 457 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

Inkulinati is a single player and multiplayer casual turn-based strategy game with comedy and historical themes. It was developed by Yaza Games and was released on January 30, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Inkulinati" is a comedic turn-based strategy game, available for single-player and local multi-player . It features exceptional game mechanics and fabulous visuals inspired by 700-year-old medieval manuscripts, bringing to life bizarre art pieces filled with humorous elements such as sword-wielding rabbits and human-eating snails. Prepare to build your own bestiary, defeat medieval superstars, and climb the ranks to become the greatest Inkulinati of all time.

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 457 reviews

gameplay59 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Charming art style and humorous writing that captures the essence of medieval manuscripts.
Engaging turn-based strategy gameplay with a surprising depth that encourages experimentation with different units and tactics.
Unique mechanics, such as the boredom system, add an interesting layer to combat and strategy.

The lengthy tutorial can be tedious and may overwhelm new players with information.
Some balancing issues exist, particularly with certain units being overpowered or underwhelming, leading to repetitive gameplay.
The game can feel slow-paced due to animations and turn sequences, which may detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The gameplay of "Inkulinati" is characterized by its charming art style and innovative mechanics, offering a mix of strategic depth and puzzle-solving elements within a turn-based framework. While many players appreciate the unique combat system and variety of units, some find the gameplay repetitive and the learning curve steep, leading to mixed feelings about its overall engagement and challenge. Despite its aesthetic appeal, the gameplay can feel slow and at times lacks the excitement expected from a strategy game, with some mechanics being seen as convoluted or underdeveloped.
- “At the heart of Inkulinati's gameplay is its innovative combat system.”
- “The game's mechanics encourage experimentation, allowing players to discover synergies between different units and tactics, leading to a dynamic and engaging combat experience.”
- “With its creative brilliance and innovative gameplay, Inkulinati is an absolute triumph, proving that strategy games can be both intellectually stimulating and delightfully entertaining.”
- “Immensely tedious and repetitive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is repetitive without at times offering a fair challenge; at times you're just matched against enemies that are way too hard.”
- “Unfortunately, like many turn-based games, the gameplay is slow and boring, like chess, watching cricket, or waiting in line at the grocery store.”
graphics
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The graphics of *Inkulinati* are widely praised for their charming and unique medieval manuscript-inspired art style, which enhances the game's whimsical tone and thematic depth. Players appreciate the delightful visuals and humorous animations, although some find the hand-drawn aesthetic can be distracting during intense gameplay. Overall, the art style is a significant draw for many, contributing to a visually engaging and enjoyable experience.
- “This distinctive art style not only sets the game apart visually but also enhances the thematic depth, making each encounter feel like a page from a forgotten tome brought to life.”
- “The art style is incredibly charming, the gameplay is surprisingly deep, and its roguelite journey mode can be pretty engaging.”
- “Inkulinati stands out by seamlessly blending its unique theme with innovative gameplay and striking visuals.”
- “Some players might find the hand-drawn aesthetic distracting or difficult to navigate, especially during intense combat sequences.”
- “The visuals get old fast; or at least the humor does.”
- “Because in the end it's yet another roguelike with a different twist on the genre, and we already have tons of that. Besides, the sound effects and music are simply lacking that 'oomph' to make the turn-based gameplay exciting, and once I got past the novelty of the art style, I realized how the art style actually makes the game look robotic and clumsy, at least on the characters.”
humor
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Inkulinati" is widely praised for its quirky and absurd charm, drawing inspiration from medieval manuscripts to create a unique blend of witty commentary, funny character designs, and playful scenarios. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance strategic gameplay with a lighthearted tone, featuring hilarious animations and dialogues that enhance the overall experience. However, some reviewers note that the humor may not resonate with everyone, and its novelty can wear off over time.
- “This storytelling approach adds a layer of charm and humor to the game, with the scribe's witty commentary providing context and personality to the unfolding events.”
- “Is genuinely fun and boasts a completely hilarious core concept; the idea of battling with bizarre creatures straight out of medieval manuscripts is pure genius.”
- “The humor captures the nature of the marginalia of medieval illuminated manuscripts perfectly, and reminds me of the Terry Gilliam cartoons in *The Holy Grail*.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its medieval vibe and ability to complement the art and story, creating a wholesome experience. However, others found it lacking in variety and excitement, with some tracks feeling repetitive or not standing out. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its thematic relevance, it is seen as a missed opportunity to fully capitalize on the game's unique aesthetic.
- “The music complements both the art and story, creating an overall wholesome experience for the player.”
- “The hand-drawn art, the medieval music, and the pure love poured into every detail make Inkulinati more than just a goofy game.”
- “The music is top notch - I love medieval and renaissance faire music.”
- “The music is sort of ok to meh, nothing really stood out to me.”
- “The music... was disappointing.”
- “It was a missed opportunity - why not use 'authentic' music to match the visuals?”
story
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
82%
9%
The game's story is characterized as simple and somewhat silly, often described as a comedic backdrop rather than a central focus. While players appreciate the charming and humorous elements, including witty commentary and quirky characters, many feel the narrative lacks depth and can become repetitive over multiple playthroughs. Overall, the story serves as a lighthearted complement to the gameplay, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more substantial narrative experience.
- “This storytelling approach adds a layer of charm and humor to the game, with the scribe's witty commentary providing context and personality to the unfolding events.”
- “The story is very straightforward and short, but its simplicity lets the characters you encounter shine in their perfectly absurd ways.”
- “The unique setting and mechanics, along with the rich story and challenging gameplay, made for a truly captivating experience.”
- “However, the storyline is really stupid.”
- “Playing the story repeatedly provides extra starting item choices, achievements, a score, and more dialogue, but even with the extra dialogue, it does get rather dry in the story department.”
- “My one sort of disappointment is the absence of a proper story; I thought the art style and the fact that everything happens inside a book would mean there would be a proper story written with illustrations, where battles are just part of the narrative.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The game's replayability is enhanced by its multiplayer mode and varying pathways, allowing for 30-40 hours of enjoyment beyond the single-player experience. While some players may find the replay value limited after completing the main content, the inclusion of different strategies, creature unlocks, and procedurally generated maps contributes to a solid replay experience, particularly for those willing to adapt their tactics. Overall, the game offers a decent level of replayability, especially with its roguelite elements and potential for future expansions.
- “The inclusion of multiplayer adds replayability, ensuring that players can continue to enjoy the game long after completing the single-player content.”
- “With all the different creatures, the procedurally generated maps, four different difficulties, and the huge catalogue of extra courses and riddles, Inkulinati offers a decent amount of replayability.”
- “There is a lot of replayability value; every team of creatures you unlock has a different strategy, and a different talent or hand move can completely change how you play.”
- “Additionally, while the game is a blast on the first playthrough, I found the replay value to be somewhat limited.”
- “This is a bit short game, although it offers some replay value.”
- “In a world where games weren't expected to be replayable to no end, and where rogue-lites weren't so popular, I think Inkulinati would have been able to push forward with its merits instead of incorporating these expectations, sullying an otherwise great meal.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often turning combat into a chore, especially during the campaign. While some appreciate the strategic challenge it offers, many feel that the gameplay lacks depth and becomes overly drawn out, with lengthy tutorials and limited incentives for engaging with higher difficulty levels. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the game's potential enjoyment.
- “Immensely tedious and repetitive gameplay.”
- “Unfortunately the game itself is tedious, arbitrary, and just feels too padded and drawn out.”
- “You need to decide if you want to pay 25 bucks for what is - in essence - a relatively shallow tactics game that only consists of duels, which can be quite slow and tedious.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by rich dialogue filled with historical references and playful banter, which complements its visual style. Additionally, the atmospheric music contributes significantly to the overall experience, although some players may find it less appealing despite enjoying tactical gameplay.
- “The dialogue is rich with historical references and playful banter, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the game's visual style.”
- “Very atmospheric music.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth that would draw players into the game world.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to create an engaging experience.”
- “The overall ambiance is disappointing, making it hard to immerse myself in the game's setting.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, as the music enhances the art and story, resulting in a wholesome experience. The unexpected combination of humor and heartfelt moments, such as commanding a farting donkey, fosters a surprising emotional investment in the gameplay.
- “The music complements both the art and story, creating an overall wholesome experience for the player.”
- “I never thought I’d live to see the day when I’d command a farting donkey into battle and feel emotionally invested.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is questioned, particularly regarding its compatibility with various input devices, as users seek clarity on which device it was specifically tailored for. Additionally, the unique abilities and characteristics of the units suggest that performance may vary based on how well the game is optimized for different controls.
- “These units, ranging from knights to mythical beasts, possess unique abilities and characteristics that influence their performance on the battlefield.”
- “What input device was it optimized for???”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the character development is engaging and enjoyable, noting the unique art style and humorous character designs that enhance the overall experience.
- “The character design is fun and interesting.”
- “The music and art style are so unique, and the character designs are hilarious!”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a desire for more diverse content and features in the game, indicating that the current monetization strategy may not be effectively promoting the game, as it lacks visibility and engagement from larger content creators.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users express a positive outlook on the game's stability, noting that despite initial skepticism about potential bugs or jankiness, the game performs impressively well.