Lenna's Inception

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Lenna's Inception is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with fantasy, comedy and science fiction themes. It was developed by ByttenStudio and was released on January 17, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

In Lenna's Inception, Lenna, a reluctant tutor, must save a glitching kingdom after the Hero is captured by the evil Chairman of the Banker’s Guild. Explore a dangerous island, defeat eight archangels in this top-down Zelda-like action-adventure game, and discover multiple endings, boss forms, and procedural generation across two graphical styles. Play solo or with a friend in local co-op multiplayer, and test your skills in the daily challenge.

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 253 reviews

story42 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic Zelda titles while introducing unique mechanics and humor.
Procedurally generated worlds and dungeons provide a fresh experience with each playthrough, enhancing replayability.
The story features clever twists and engaging characters, making it enjoyable and memorable.

The random generation can lead to bland and repetitive dungeon designs, lacking the complexity of handcrafted levels.
Combat can feel too easy, with many enemies and bosses not providing a significant challenge.
Some mechanics, like the glitch effects, can be visually overwhelming and may detract from the overall experience.

story
123 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The game's story is a mix of engaging twists and predictable elements, with a charming narrative that encourages replayability through multiple endings and side quests. While some players found the character development lacking and the side quests tedious, many appreciated the clever integration of meta storytelling and the nostalgic homage to classic Zelda games. Overall, the story is seen as a highlight, offering a fun and whimsical experience despite some criticisms regarding depth and clarity.
- “The story is also extremely good, there's a twist that completely took me by surprise and yet upon replay it turns out they were foreshadowing since the very beginning.”
- “The story is clever and charming, and the ability to play the game through again with completely different worlds or challenges is a wonderful touch.”
- “The story is robust, and even though you see it coming from miles away, I really liked the 'twist'.”
- “The story is meh.”
- “The story falls short of its potential, spoiling twists early on and never developing relationships you care about (as Link's Awakening did)...at least not in the first playthrough.”
- “The storytelling is, when existent, stilted at best.”
gameplay
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The gameplay is a nostalgic homage to classic top-down Zelda titles, featuring familiar mechanics alongside unique elements like procedural generation and co-op options. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and exploration, some criticize the reliance on glitch mechanics and forced traversal methods that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game offers a charming blend of retro aesthetics and innovative gameplay, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking groundbreaking mechanics.
- “It is a great combination of nostalgia, time-tested gameplay, and some interesting additions.”
- “The gameplay itself is just like 'Link to the Past', but the second half of the game introduces a fun mechanic that I really enjoyed and took the game to the next level.”
- “A great sense of humor, gorgeous visuals that perfectly mimic the Zelda games of the Game Boy and SNES, and fluid, quick-to-learn gameplay make this a very immediately enjoyable experience.”
- “In terms of gameplay, there's nothing truly groundbreaking; all your 'A Link to the Past' mechanics are here, although the world traversing sometimes feels too forced - using your bow to shoot walls built entirely of archery targets in order to progress, seriously?”
- “I will admit, I really disliked the final dungeon where there wasn't a map and you have to use the mechanics introduced in the dungeon just before the final dungeon in order to advance around the dungeon.”
- “Overall: cute presentation, bad gameplay, and terrible, soulless, paint-by-numbers world design.”
music
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its emotional depth and memorable compositions, particularly the battle themes and somber tracks. The dual soundtracks for 8-bit and 32-bit styles add variety, though some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's nostalgic and whimsical atmosphere.
- “The music is amazing, Joel Baylis did a phenomenal job here!”
- “The music on both the 8-bit and 32-bit soundtracks is absolutely gorgeous; I've caught myself humming the boss song to myself on a number of occasions just because of how good it is.”
- “The soundtrack is great; though I must admit, I only listened to the 8-bit version, as it's the version of the game I'm used to, having watched the dev blog since roughly 2016.”
- “The soundtrack also changes depending on what style you pick; I think the game has a nice soundtrack, but I just think the glitch vision soundtrack can get a bit stale after a while.”
- “Music gets repetitive.”
- “Lanna's inception is an interesting take on Zelda that nails the graphical and musical design of the series while failing to deliver on its main gimmick: randomized dungeons, which are mostly empty and devoid of life.”
graphics
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The game features impressive graphics with the option to switch between 8-bit and 32-bit art styles, enhancing replayability and player engagement. Many reviewers appreciate the detailed animations and the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Zelda games, although some note that the visuals can become straining in later levels. Overall, the graphics are well-received, showcasing a strong artistic effort and a variety of customizable options.
- “The graphics are great, and I love the option to experience this game in either 8-bit or 32-bit.”
- “I love the graphics, the effort put into having two art styles.”
- “The fact that there's two different graphical modes (8-bit and 32-bit) that have their own entire soundtracks is already really cool, but the game just looks and sounds fantastic.”
- “Overall a fun game, but once you get to the final areas, the visuals will start to really strain your eyes.”
- “Not sure why it claims to be 32-bit graphics... it's no higher than 4-bit and 16-bit graphics in my opinion.”
- “Bad graphics as the sword looks horrible.”
replayability
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The game offers high replayability through its randomized elements, multiple game modes, and various endings, allowing players to experience different challenges and outcomes with each playthrough. While some reviewers noted that the linear story may limit long-term engagement, the procedural generation and unique mechanics provide enough variety to keep players returning. Overall, fans of roguelikes and randomized gameplay will find significant replay value in this title.
- “And in some ways, it's infinitely replayable with the randomized elements.”
- “Lenna's Inception may be a short game, but it manages to execute its core ideas and strengths to an amazing degree, offers options for replayability through its multiple game modes and endings, and provides plenty of freedom on how to approach the game.”
- “The randomization adds a lot of replayability, and creates surprisingly coherent worlds because of some very clever procedural generation by the developers.”
- “Very much ironically, their efforts to make it more replayable make it less so.”
- “I think the replayability is a bit overrated for this game. Surely the maps are randomly generated, and you can maybe skip one dungeon to save it for the end, but it feels very linear; the story also stays the same.”
- “I guess it all adds to the replay value. The story also starts to make more sense in your second playthrough, so the second run is probably just as fun, but I feel it will get stale pretty quick.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
12%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its meta and pun-filled writing, as well as its quirky references to gaming tropes, particularly those reminiscent of the Zelda series. While some find the humor charming and well-executed, others feel it tries too hard to be funny, resulting in a less impactful experience. Overall, the game is noted for its lighthearted approach and clever dialogue, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its comedic style.
- “To start, I adore this game's humor.”
- “The humor in the game is a high point.”
- “I'm recommending it right now so more people can buy it and try it out, so far the gameplay is great, it's cute, and the humor is witty and never feels out of place.”
- “The game tries to be funny by being unfunny; it throws puns at the player in a very 'Haha, I know they aren't funny, but the bear puns are charming, right?' kind of way (though I do adore the business skeletons).”
- “The humor feels forced and often falls flat, relying on clichés that fail to elicit any genuine laughter.”
- “While the game attempts to inject humor into its dialogue, most of the jokes miss the mark and come off as cringeworthy rather than clever.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of Lenna's Inception is characterized by a mix of intentional and minor glitches that enhance the game's theme, with many players appreciating the artistic choice behind them. While some users encountered real glitches, they generally found them manageable and not overly disruptive to the gameplay experience. Overall, the game's stability is a blend of charm and occasional technical hiccups.
- “Overall, there's a lot to like about Lenna's Inception despite its glitches.”
- “Game is alright in the beginning, but later on there are tons of glitches!”
- “Turns out the glitches aren't just a gimmick.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, with a high demand for items needed for quests and upgrades, leading to tedious combat due to limited enemy variety and high health. While some enjoy the overall experience, the grind can feel overwhelming and time-consuming.
- “There's tons of items to collect for certain quests and upgrades, but it's very grindy and requires too many items.”
- “Little enemy variety, and most have too much health; combat becomes tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively balances meta elements with a heartfelt narrative, resonating deeply with players, particularly those nostalgic for classic titles like Zelda III. Its creative twists elevate the experience, eliciting both laughter and genuine emotional responses throughout.
- “It manages to do meta right in a way very few things manage to do, having them present without sabotaging the genuine, heartfelt story underneath.”
- “As a Zelda III fan when I was younger, this hit all the right nostalgia buttons for me, but it takes a really creative, modern turn that I was not expecting, elevating this from 'a Zelda clone' to its own beautiful, emotional experience.”
- “I had a few good laughs at some points, and got emotional at other moments.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is generally well-received, earning an 8/10 for performance. While it is capped at 60 frames per second, players report smooth gameplay with minimal issues, though initial generation times can take up to 30 seconds when entering caves for the first time. Overall, loading screens are infrequent, contributing to a seamless experience.
- “The game is locked to 60 frames per second, but the performance is great. I had absolutely no issues. Generation can take up to 30 seconds, but you will get one at the start of the game and each time you enter a cave for the first time. Other than that, there are practically no loading screens.”
- “[h1]Performance [b]8/10[/b][/h1]”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game successfully evokes the nostalgic atmosphere of classic Zelda titles while introducing unique elements that refresh the experience.
- “The game captures the atmosphere of the old Zelda games and puts an interesting spin on it.”
- “The immersive world draws you in with its stunning visuals and haunting soundtrack.”
- “Every corner of the game is filled with rich details that create a captivating and enchanting atmosphere.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is generally perceived as lacking depth, with well-designed characters that possess distinct personalities but minimal backstory. While players can form casual friendships, the emotional connections feel superficial, leaving many characters feeling generic despite the game's philosophical themes.
- “The character design is great, and while the characters have their own personalities, I wish there was more depth to their backstories. The friendships feel casual, which contrasts with the game's philosophical story.”
- “Some characters have depth, but many feel a bit generic. I would have loved to see more development to truly bond with them.”
- “The game presents a philosophical narrative, yet the character development feels lacking, as most characters don't have the backstory needed to create a deeper connection.”

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5h Main story

13h Completionist

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Lenna's Inception is a role playing game with fantasy, comedy and science fiction themes.

Lenna's Inception is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 5 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 13 hours to finish. On average players spend around 5 hours playing Lenna's Inception.

Lenna's Inception was released on January 17, 2020.

Lenna's Inception was developed by ByttenStudio.

Lenna's Inception has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Lenna's Inception is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Anodyne, Evoland, Axiom Verge, Prodigal, Death's Door and others.

Lenna's Inception

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