Inner

About

Inner is a single player puzzle game with a horror theme. It was developed by DarkStone Digital and was released on August 15, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Why are you running? Wander your subconscious mind under hypnosis. Find pieces of your memories to face your fear. Maybe you will find what you're looking for or maybe it will find you...

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

atmosphere2 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating minimalist visual style that creates a unique and meditative atmosphere.
The mechanics of flight based on breathing and rhythm are original and provide a relaxing experience while exploring abstract worlds.
Despite its brevity, the game offers emotional depth and relatable themes, making it a surprisingly impactful experience for a short game developed in just three days.

The gameplay is shallow and repetitive, with tasks that quickly become monotonous and lack meaningful challenges or a compelling story.
Players can easily lose progress due to unskippable dialogue and frustrating mechanics, such as being caught by enemies that lead to starting over from the main menu.
The environments can feel bland and indistinguishable, making navigation confusing and detracting from the overall experience.

story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The story is a poignant exploration of a character confronting their troubled past, drawing comparisons to "Depression Quest" in its emotional depth. Despite being created in just three days, it delivers a powerful and impactful narrative that resonates deeply, with a surprisingly rich backstory that leaves a lasting impression on players.
- “There's actually a whole backstory behind such a simple concept that I was actually blown away by the end.”
- “It is similar to Depression Quest by its premise - let that sink in.”
- “The plot is about a person who's trying to face his past and how these memories have impacted him so negatively all this while.”
- “Extremely well made for only 3 days, and the story put together can be tear-jerking to some.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The gameplay is minimalistic and easy to master, focusing on unique mechanics that align with the character's identity. While improvements and more guidance could enhance the experience, players can grasp the core message through trial and error. Overall, it offers a straightforward and simple gameplay experience rather than an elaborate one.
- “The gameplay is minimalistic and quite quick to master.”
- “The mechanics are unique on their own, and I understood why your character moved like that when I understood who we are.”
- “Don't expect a long or over-the-top gameplay experience, but think more simple.”
- “Sure improvements can be made to the gameplay, and there could have been more guidance by the therapist, but the core message is conveyed through trial and error.”
- “Don't expect a long or over-the-top gameplay experience; think more simple.”
- “The gameplay is minimalistic—quite quick to master.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game features appealing graphics and environments, players have reported occasional glitches that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the aesthetic remains enjoyable.
- “The game has some nice graphics and environments, but there are ugly glitches here and there that detract from the experience.”
- “I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating; I often find myself dealing with lag and unexpected freezes.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by engaging visuals and impressive sound design that enhances the overall experience. Players find it both fun and immersive, contributing to a captivating puzzle-solving environment.
- “Still great atmosphere though, and the creatures sound gnarly.”
- “Very fun little puzzle game, very atmospheric and nice to look at.”
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics are generally praised for their appealing aesthetics and well-designed environments, though some users have noted the presence of occasional glitches that detract from the overall experience.
- “The game offers some nice graphics and environments; although there are some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same and has a really great aesthetic.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game effectively enhances the atmosphere, particularly during encounters with the ghost, where it serves as a crucial element for creating jump scares through its sudden stings and accompanying tension.
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Despite its low price and brief gameplay, "inner" offers a surprising depth of emotional resonance and layered significance, surpassing many more extensive horror games in its ability to evoke feelings.
- “In conclusion, 'Inner', despite being a $1 game and a very brief one-off experience (minutes at most supposedly), contains surprisingly more emotional depth and layered significance than half of the horror games out there!”