Inversed

About

A short, interactive visual novel set in the mid-19th Century, in which a poet fights against time as she's writing the most important work of her life. Poetry is the answer, but what is the question?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

story4 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and excellent voice acting, creating an engaging atmosphere.
The unique poetry mechanic adds an interesting layer to the storytelling, making it immersive and thought-provoking.
It's a free, short experience that effectively captures emotional depth and intrigue within its limited scope.

The narrative can be confusing and cryptic at times, leaving players unsure of the story's direction.
Some players feel that the game lacks substantial gameplay, resembling more of an interactive e-book than a traditional game.
The overall experience is very short, which may leave some players wanting more depth and development.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The story is described as a poetic and gothic short narrative with a horror theme, featuring a meta-narrative and religious intertextuality that adds depth. While some reviewers appreciated the unique storytelling mechanics and voice acting, others criticized the overall substance and payoff of the plot, suggesting it may not fully satisfy all players. Despite its brevity and mixed reception, the story's intriguing elements and artistic presentation garnered some positive feedback.
- “A poetic short story with a gothic atmosphere.”
- “I liked the poetry mechanic, and I thought it was an interesting way of interacting with the story.”
- “Gorgeous presentation, stellar voice acting, and a story that punched me right in the feels.”
- “This is an extremely short e-book/short story with a horror theme written apparently for a competition, but inexcusably published on Steam as if it was a game, when it obviously is not.”
- “Maybe the end product will have better content, but the story in this just has the intrigue, but the payoff is... meh.”
- “There isn't that much substance to it, but it manages to weave a coherent story and if you're considering another game by Tymedust Games, I would suggest playing this or another one of their free games first to see if this is your type of style.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay is characterized by a simple and linear design that some players find engaging, particularly through its unique poetry mechanic that enhances story interaction. However, criticism arises regarding the quality of the dialogue, with some reviewers questioning the overall writing and narrative depth. While the mechanics are praised for their design, the game is not intended to be a literary masterpiece.
- “I liked the poetry mechanic, and I thought it was an interesting way of interacting with the story.”
- “Simple, perfectly straightforward, but involving gameplay.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “It is the main gameplay component, but I also understand the game is not meant to be a literary showcase.”
- “With simple but very well-designed mechanics, choose words and receive poems; what could go wrong in the end, right?”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The game's graphics are highly praised for their artistic style, which effectively complements the overall vibe and narrative. Reviewers appreciate the dark aesthetic and quality artwork, noting that the visuals and voice acting enhance the experience. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, particularly for fans of artsy designs.
- “The art style of this game matches the vibe perfectly.”
- “Is well done and I love the artwork; it has a dark feel to it.”
- “Apart from all that, the voice acting is quite nice and the visuals are fitting for the content described.”
- “I'd give it a go if you like artsy graphic things and want a brief interlude.”
- “It's well done and I love the artwork; it has a dark feel to it.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's atmosphere is described as a haunting and gothic experience, enhanced by evocative music that creates tension without overshadowing the narrative. While some players felt the short format limited the depth of atmosphere and tension, many found it emotionally impactful, evoking feelings of sadness and fear.
- “A poetic short story with a gothic atmosphere.”
- “The piano and music in general serve their purpose in creating tension and a generally unsettling atmosphere without distracting too much from the narrative.”
- “The whole atmosphere of it was haunting, sad, and tragic, and this game accomplished making me tear up while having chills of fear.”
- “The whole atmosphere of it was haunting, sad, tragic, and this game did the accomplishment of making me tear up while having chills of fear.”
- “I wasn't quite unsettled by the game, possibly because of the difficulty related to building atmosphere and tension in such a short amount of time, although this is unavoidable considering it was made for a game jam with a 1k word count limitation.”
- “The piano and music in general also serves its purpose in creating tension and a generally unsettling atmosphere without distracting too much from the narrative.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening it to a frustrating experience where the narrative unfolds slowly, requiring constant clicking to progress. While some acknowledge it can be a bit grindy at times, the overall sentiment leans towards a lack of engagement due to the cumbersome pacing.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, the sense of achievement when leveling up is incredibly satisfying.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be it 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' or '2001: A Space Odyssey' or 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The music in the game effectively enhances the unsettling atmosphere and tension, complementing the narrative without being distracting. Reviewers praise the well-crafted score, noting its contribution to the overall experience alongside strong voice acting.
- “The piano and music in general serve their purpose in creating tension and a generally unsettling atmosphere without distracting too much from the narrative.”
- “A very well-crafted short horror visual novel, featuring good music and voice acting.”
- “The piano and music in general also serve their purpose in creating tension and a generally unsettling atmosphere without distracting too much from the narrative.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively conveys deep emotional themes, particularly the grief associated with Alzheimer's, resonating even with those who haven't experienced it personally. Its ability to deliver a powerful emotional impact in a brief playtime is widely praised.
- “Emotional and eerie, this game captured the grief of Alzheimer's heartbreakingly well—even for someone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand.”
- “This game packed a huge emotional punch in such a short time.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by sharp wit and clever observations, as exemplified by a remark about the minimal demand for a book, suggesting a playful take on the absurdity of certain situations. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to deliver humor through unexpected and humorous commentary.
- “The funny thing is, if you wanted to print this book, you'd only need to print 4 copies to satisfy the entire world's demand for it.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy includes advertisements featured in the game's credits, which some users find intrusive or distracting.
- “The advertisements placed in the credits are incredibly distracting and take away from the overall experience.”
- “I can't believe they decided to put ads in the credits; it feels so cheap and unprofessional.”
- “Seeing ads during the credits really ruins the immersion and makes it feel like a cash grab.”