Inside is a puzzle-platformer adventure game where you control a boy in a dystopian world. The boy must escape from the clutches of a mysterious organization, solve challenging puzzles, and avoid detection while uncovering the dark secrets of this eerie world. With atmospheric visuals and suspenseful gameplay, Inside is a captivating and immersive gaming experience.
The atmosphere in 'Inside' is haunting and immersive, effectively creating a sense of dread and mystery throughout the gameplay.
The game's stunning visuals and minimalist sound design contribute to a compelling narrative that engages players without the use of dialogue.
Gameplay mechanics are smooth and intuitive, with engaging puzzles that challenge players while maintaining a seamless integration of storytelling.
The game is relatively short, lasting about 3-5 hours, which some players feel does not justify its value.
Many players find the character development lacking, with minimal growth or narrative depth for the protagonist.
Some technical issues, such as graphical glitches on specific systems, can disrupt the immersive experience.
story
12,618 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The story of "Inside" is a haunting and ambiguous narrative that unfolds entirely through environmental storytelling, without any dialogue or text. Players navigate a dark, dystopian world filled with unsettling imagery and thought-provoking themes, leaving much of the interpretation up to individual perception. While some find the story deeply engaging and rich in metaphor, others feel it lacks clarity and resolution, resulting in a mix of intrigue and confusion as they piece together the protagonist's journey.
“Inside is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling and environmental design.”
“The story unfolds wordlessly, relying on visual cues and subtle details that grip you from start to finish.”
“Inside tells a compelling story and keeps you engaged for the entire story without a single word of dialogue.”
“Definitely wish it had a clearer story, but the atmosphere is very well done.”
“I had to watch a video to understand the story.”
“The story was too abstract for my taste and barely comprehensible.”
atmosphere
8,472 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
31%
1%
The atmosphere in "Inside" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and mystery throughout the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, minimalistic sound design, and the ability to convey a compelling narrative without dialogue, all of which contribute to a deeply engaging experience. Many players find the atmosphere to be the game's strongest aspect, making it a must-play for fans of atmospheric storytelling and puzzle-platformers.
“The atmosphere and the ambience of this game is fantastic.”
“The enigmatic feeling was beautifully captured by the amazing atmosphere.”
“What really shines is the atmosphere: it’s haunting, mysterious, and eerily beautiful, with an art style and soundscape that make every step feel intense.”
“The suffocating atmosphere makes you feel uneasy, like there is something dangerous lingering around every corner.”
“The atmosphere is dark, eerie, and brooding.”
“The atmosphere is so thick you could cut it with a knife, and the story asks more questions than it answers.”
gameplay
6,829 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The gameplay of "Inside" has been widely praised for its smooth mechanics, intuitive controls, and engaging puzzles that challenge players without becoming overly frustrating. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to seamlessly integrate storytelling with gameplay, creating a haunting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, some players expressed disappointment over the game's short length (approximately 3-5 hours) and the simplicity of its mechanics, suggesting that while the game is artistically impressive, it may not offer enough depth for those seeking more complex gameplay.
“What an amazing game, filled with unique puzzles and gameplay.”
“The gameplay is smooth and intuitive, with puzzles that are challenging yet fair.”
“Inside excels in delivering a seamless and intuitive gameplay experience.”
“At £17 for less than 4 hours of gameplay, it's a slight no from me!”
“The gameplay was standard fare - run away from some enemies, then solve some basic puzzles and move on to the next area.”
“The gameplay is boring, it lacks tension, and the puzzles are just bad.”
graphics
6,711 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The graphics of "Inside" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning, minimalist art style that effectively conveys a haunting atmosphere. Players appreciate the game's ability to tell a compelling story through visuals alone, with detailed animations and atmospheric sound design enhancing the overall experience. While some critiques mention the simplicity of the graphics, many agree that this choice contributes to the game's unique aesthetic and emotional impact, making it a standout title in the indie gaming landscape.
“The visual graphics are really satisfying to look at with the amazing and fluid animation and sound effects.”
“It is a game of visuals through and through and it does so with grace and attention to detail.”
“The graphic art is breathtaking, perfectly matching the game's dark theme, and the game's atmosphere stands out as truly exceptional.”
“I sadly can't play the game on macos 15.1 on a MacBook Pro with M1 Pro as I have really annoying graphical glitches in-game.”
“The graphics are simple yet have depth and help sell the environment.”
“The graphics, the aesthetic 3-d seeming scenes, the music, the puzzles, the secrets, etc. are all excellently done and a beautiful eerie world and environment to explore.”
music
2,308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The music in "Inside" is characterized by its minimalist and atmospheric approach, often serving to enhance the game's eerie and immersive environment rather than dominate it. While some players appreciate the sparse use of music, which allows for a focus on ambient sounds and environmental storytelling, others express a desire for a more robust soundtrack to deepen engagement with the narrative. Overall, the hauntingly beautiful sound design and subtle musical cues effectively contribute to the game's unsettling atmosphere, making it a memorable experience.
“Pair that with the hauntingly subtle soundtrack, and you have an experience that is equal parts beautiful and terrifying.”
“The atmospheric sounds and haunting music created an immersive experience that sent shivers down my spine.”
“The music is phenomenal, and really added to the game's many memorable moments.”
“The music (and lack of it in some scenes) is great, emphasizing the sense of urgency and fear when required in a great way.”
“The game's dark, dystopian world pulls you in immediately with its eerie visuals and moody soundtrack.”
“The absence of a traditional soundtrack heightens the impact of environmental sounds—creaking doors, distant machinery, and the protagonist's footsteps become key elements of the narrative.”
replayability
691 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
60%
24%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that it can be completed in about 3-4 hours and lacks significant incentives to replay after the initial experience. While some hidden collectibles and achievements offer minimal replay value, most reviews suggest that once the story is completed, there is little reason to return, making it more of a one-time experience rather than a game with lasting replayability. Players recommend purchasing it on sale due to its short length and limited replay options.
“The atmosphere is eerie as always and a bit of replay value with an alternate ending.”
“Plus, the replayability factor with hidden secrets and alternate paths adds extra value and extends the enjoyment.”
“This game does offer replay value if you want to complete all of the achievements or if you just want to experience it again.”
“Replayability is pretty null though.”
“Doesn't really have any replay value so once you play it once there isn't really a reason to play again.”
“The game is short, about 3 hours and has little replay value.”
emotional
470 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Inside" is widely praised for its profound impact, with players describing it as a haunting and evocative experience that elicits a range of feelings from anxiety to deep sadness. The game's minimalist storytelling, conveyed through visuals and sound rather than dialogue, allows for a deeply personal connection to the protagonist, making the emotional journey resonate long after gameplay. While some critiques mention a lack of emotional engagement at times, the overall consensus highlights its ability to provoke thought and evoke strong emotional responses, solidifying its status as a masterpiece in emotional storytelling within gaming.
“The emotional impact of the game, combined with its visual and auditory brilliance, ensures that it remains a powerful and evocative experience.”
“Inside is more than a game; it's a journey, an emotional rollercoaster that leaves you thinking long after you've finished playing.”
“The hauntingly beautiful sound design, accompanied by the sparse yet impactful musical score, amplifies the emotional resonance, ensuring that every moment – be it suspenseful or poignant – lingers in the mind long after the game is turned off.”
“Lastly, the ending was awful; I found no conclusion to the boring story.”
“Boring story, boring graphics and music, boring platforming.”
“Boring story, boring graphics and music, boring platforming.”
grinding
342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
13%
86%
The reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, with many puzzles described as overly simplistic or requiring excessive backtracking. Players express frustration with the slow pacing and the need to repeat actions, leading to a sense of boredom that detracts from the overall experience. While some moments are praised for their creativity, the general consensus is that the gameplay often feels like a chore rather than an engaging challenge.
“There are some moments of jank, but it didn't have the tediousness that came with limbo.”
“Some people are complaining that it's too short, but it's no repetition, no grinding, and no filler.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Immeasurably boring and the puzzles aren't even puzzles, just tedious time wasters to pad time that even a middle schooler could understand.”
“The gameplay started to feel tedious almost immediately and that carried throughout the rest of the game.”
“The puzzles are challenge though a little tedious towards the end.”
humor
337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and absurd elements, often eliciting laughter through unexpected twists and grotesque scenarios. Players frequently mention the game's ability to juxtapose eerie atmospheres with hilariously absurd moments, particularly in the final act, which leaves a lasting impression of both shock and amusement. Overall, the humor is described as a unique mix of unsettling and entertaining, making for a memorable experience that balances horror with comedic relief.
“Really fun to play in an eerie environment, full of little sprinkles of dark humor.”
“The end of the game is ridiculously funny and fascinating.”
“I was literally laughing hysterically once I reached blob mode.”
optimization
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
44%
5%
Overall, the game's optimization is highly praised, with many users reporting smooth performance across a range of hardware, including low-end systems. While some players experienced occasional frame rate drops and minor glitches, these issues were generally not significant enough to disrupt gameplay. The game is noted for its excellent graphics and performance, maintaining high frame rates even under demanding conditions.
“The game is very well optimized and runs beautifully; graphics are on point even though most AAA games use more sophisticated engines.”
“Performance wise, the game runs pretty perfectly; I never saw it drop lower than 55 fps in-game on my GTX 860m at 'max' settings 1080p.”
“No performance issues; maintained 60 fps.”
“While generally well-optimized, I encountered occasional technical issues such as frame rate drops or minor glitches, which can momentarily disrupt immersion.”
“In terms of performance, the game chugged and even crashed a few times during a sequence in which you have to lug a large number of NPCs behind you (18 of them, if I recall).”
“Though if you run into performance issues, there is not much to do about it in-game.”
stability
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
11%
54%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance and minimal glitches or bugs across various platforms, including Steam Deck and Linux. However, some users have experienced occasional technical issues, such as graphical glitches on specific systems like macOS and minor frame rate drops. Despite these isolated incidents, the majority of players found the game well-optimized and immersive, with no significant disruptions to gameplay.
“Optimisation is good; in my gameplay, I faced no glitches or bugs.”
“Game runs great with no problems whatsoever.”
“There were no glitches; the animations and graphics were smooth, and it was incredibly immersive.”
“I sadly can't play the game on macOS 15.1 on a MacBook Pro with M1 Pro as I have really annoying graphical glitches in-game.”
“There are a couple of annoying graphical glitches like VSync tearing and incorrect resolution setting.”
“Except that every time I play, about 15 minutes in, the game freezes, forcing me to shut it down and restart it.”
character development
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
Character development in the game is largely criticized for its absence, with many reviewers noting that while the character design is visually stunning and complements the game's aesthetic, it fails to provide meaningful growth or narrative depth. Comparisons to "Limbo" highlight that both games tell compelling stories without dialogue, but "Inside" is seen as lacking the same artistic nuance and emotional weight. Overall, the consensus is that the game's beautiful visuals and sound design do not compensate for the lack of character development.
“Love the simplicity of the character design paired with the complex scenic design.”
“Roughly 3 hours of engrossing gameplay that progresses at a perfect pace while mesmerizing you with its beautiful art style, nuanced physics, and painstakingly detailed character design and movement.”
“Every element, from the gameplay, to the level design, to the character design, to the soundtrack has been so beautifully crafted that it reaches far beyond that description.”
“If there was some actual character development here, it would have excused the boring platforming and puzzles.”
“In Limbo, you explored a new dark, cruel world and even though there was no character development, the world carried the weight of the game.”
“Inside lacks a lot of the artistic nuance of Limbo, with a character design that lacks the mesmerizing eeriness of Limbo’s.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
68%
19%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with many users appreciating the absence of microtransactions and DLCs, contrasting it with the prevalent trends of aggressive monetization in the industry. Some reviews highlight the game's approach as a refreshing alternative, emphasizing its focus on player experience rather than profit-driven tactics. Overall, the lack of in-game purchases is seen as a significant advantage.
“It's like the perfect counterpoint to the big trends in games today (huge time sinks, gross monetization, violence for violence's sake, etc.). I'd recommend this to anyone!”
“☐ Microtransactions for a good cause.”
“The ending makes more sense than EA's microtransactions...”
“It's like the perfect counterpoint to the big trends in games today (huge time sinks, gross monetization, violence for violence's sake, etc.) I'd recommend this to anyone!”