Lucifer Within Us

About

"Lucifer Within Us" is a narrative-driven detective game where you investigate timelines, question suspects, and use contradictions to uncover the truth in daemonic possession cases. The game features no hidden plot twists or mini-games, just you and the information to solve three murder cases. As a detective, you'll enter the minds of citizens to banish daemonic A.I. and make tough choices about who to purge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 368 reviews

gameplay126 positive mentions

replayability6 negative mentions

Engaging and unique investigation mechanics that allow players to find contradictions in testimonies.
Beautiful art style and strong voice acting that enhance the overall experience.
Interesting setting and story that leaves players wanting more.

Extremely short gameplay, with only three cases that can be completed in under three hours.
The ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many plot points unresolved.
Limited replayability and a lack of complexity in the mysteries, making them predictable.

gameplay
232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The gameplay of "Lucifer Within Us" is characterized by innovative mechanics centered around investigation and contradiction detection, reminiscent of classic detective games like *Phoenix Wright*. While the core gameplay is engaging and well-executed, many players feel the experience is hampered by its brevity, with only 2-4 hours of content that often leaves them wanting more complexity and depth in the cases. Overall, the game presents a solid foundation for a detective experience but feels underdeveloped, leading to a sense of disappointment regarding its length and the potential of its mechanics.
- “There is a great foundation, both in mystery solving gameplay, great visual style and interesting world.”
- “I really enjoyed the gameplay and investigation mechanics.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are great, I love the testimonies and finding the contradictions between various people's stories, the idea that people lie to you not just because they're guilty but they're afraid of being found guilty.”
- “The game feels like it was supposed to have multiple sections to it but got canned and whatever was ready was packaged into a demo and passed off as a semi-polished game with a gameplay of 3 hours.”
- “At the end of the day, it's a fun enough distraction for roughly 2 hours, maybe more if you're going for all achievements, but it's severely undercooked, especially in the actual gameplay and the execution of the story really fails on almost every front.”
- “Just under two hours and just a few scenarios, with one being half guided for the sake of tutorial, does not do this world, or these game mechanics justice, and it deserves to be longer.”
story
215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The game's story is generally regarded as intriguing and well-written, set in a unique world that blends medieval and futuristic elements. However, many players feel it is too short, with only three missions that serve more as a prologue to a larger narrative, leaving them wanting more depth and resolution. While the mechanics and art style are praised, the abrupt ending and lack of substantial plot twists detract from the overall experience, making it feel underdeveloped despite its potential.
- “The overall story was good and interesting.”
- “The story is solid, and it does good things with making mysteries actually mysterious, and with making detective work actually feel like detective work.”
- “The lore and premise where the story takes place is very interesting, and the aesthetic of medieval inquisition ideals, with futuristic aesthetic shouldn't work, but is one of the most compelling parts of the game.”
- “The story is half-baked and it really shows in the ending.”
- “The game feels like the first chapter in a much longer story, both because of its length and because of the way the ending is written.”
- “The ending feels more like bait than a way of wrapping up the story.”
graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
32%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style, unique aesthetics, and effective animations, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. However, some players noted technical issues, such as resolution problems and the top-down perspective making it difficult to examine details. Overall, while the visuals are compelling and well-executed, there are concerns about the game's length and some gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
- “Its mechanics are interesting and well polished execution of the detective game genre, its art style and art direction are great, the world is a fascinating place I'd love to be able to inhabit and get to know for longer.”
- “The art style is beautiful (both stills and animation), the voice acting is absolutely splendid all around and the overall feel of the game is quite enticing.”
- “The graphics are simple but effective giving all the detail needed but not detracting from what you're supposed to be focused on, the animations are smooth and realistic and the levels are well designed.”
- “The visuals accompanying the testimonies are too revealing and show more detail than the witness states.”
- “If you have an unusual monitor/graphic card, this is another Unity game that doesn't see the available resolutions, defaults to 320x200 if you touch the graphic options, and offers no obvious way to get back to the native resolution.”
- “On the medium, high, and ultra graphics settings, the game runs at under 10 fps.”
replayability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
52%
32%
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it is short—often clocking in under three hours—and linear, making it difficult to justify the price. While some players appreciate the quality of the art and music, they feel that the minimal content and absence of meaningful choices limit the incentive to replay. A few mention the possibility of pursuing achievements as a minor reason to revisit the game, but this is generally seen as insufficient to enhance its replay value.
- “But if you've already exhausted the shining stars of a genre that is intrinsically lacking in replay value, this is a good time that should scratch that itch.”
- “The levels are interesting, the gameplay is fun, and there's a small amount of replayability if you're fishing for 100% achievements (though in all honesty some of them are slightly tedious).”
- “There is a little replay value to get some achievements, but those achievements were missed because I didn't feel like spending the extra time up front to get them.”
- “But it is extremely short unfortunately (3 cases) and it's not really replayable because the first chapter does not let you turn off the tutorial.”
- “Granted, I already had a sense of the gameplay from playing the demo (which is essentially an entire third of the game, an issue on its own), but even with some stalling looking for extra clues after I'd already pieced things together, the entire experience still clocked in under 2 hours, and there is little if any replay value to be found here.”
- “That said, it can be hard to justify a $20 price tag for a game that's somewhat short, lacks replayability, and seems to have misleading trailers on the store page.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
23%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its haunting and immersive quality, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience. Reviewers praised the soundtrack as well-crafted and integral to the game's unique aesthetic, complementing the beautiful art and strong voice acting. Overall, the combination of music, art, and design contributes to a captivating and engaging gameplay experience.
- “The art and soundtrack were great, and I loved its unique aesthetic.”
- “The writing, art, and music all come together very nicely for an increasingly paranoid and occult atmosphere.”
- “The background music and sound effects are well done and add to the immersion.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it easy to tune out during gameplay.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the overall music composition fails to enhance the gaming experience.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional aesthetics, immersive worldbuilding, and a compelling blend of writing, art, and music that creates a dense, paranoid, and occult environment. Reviewers highlight the perfect voice acting and soundtrack, which enhance the game's unique techno-religious setting and contribute significantly to the overall experience. The combination of these elements results in a captivating and engaging atmosphere that draws players into its intriguing narrative.
- “The worldbuilding and the plot are also amazing--dense and atmospheric.”
- “The story is very well written and pulls you in with the voice acting adding that touch of atmosphere to convey the character emotions perfectly, particularly during confessions.”
- “The writing, art, and music all come together very nicely for an increasingly paranoid and occult atmosphere.”
- “The story is very well written and pulls you in, with the voice acting adding that touch of atmosphere to convey the character emotions perfectly, particularly during confessions.”
- “The little touches with the voice acting delivery and graphic choices were key to creating that atmosphere.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express a desire for a deeper emotional connection and more substantial character development in the game's narrative, particularly regarding the protagonist Ada's journey. While the game sets up a compelling and heartbreakingly immersive world, many feel that the short length and abrupt ending leave them wanting more, ultimately feeling like a missed opportunity for a truly memorable experience. Overall, the emotional potential is recognized, but the execution falls short of expectations.
- “I just would like something bigger in this same story, following Ada's journey, with more of an emotional attachment developed and the opportunity to get to know some characters and the setting with more intimacy.”
- “Unfortunately, what's presented feels more like a Kickstarter early access backer proof of concept than a full title and it's heartbreaking, as this shows so much potential for being a great and memorable mystery game, especially with its setting and how that influences the investigations.”
- “This is, in all honesty, the best game I've ever played that made me feel like Sherlock Holmes.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, particularly when it comes to completing achievements and replaying levels. While completionists may appreciate the challenge of obtaining 100% achievements, many feel that the process is not rewarding enough and lacks necessary streamlining, making repeated gameplay feel burdensome.
- “It's tedious and honestly was the bulk of my four hours of game time.”
- “On top of that, I find the achievements to be grindy and not very rewarding.”
- “I also wish there was more streamlining for the playback phases; it just feels slow, and when you have to do it over and over again, it gets so tedious.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game features impressive character designs and voice acting, complemented by clever world-building and a well-crafted plot that enhances character development. Players appreciate the non-punitive approach to decision-making, allowing for thoughtful engagement with the characters and their evolving narratives throughout the detective experience. Overall, the writing and character depth contribute significantly to the game's appeal, particularly for fans of point-and-click adventures.
- “Lots of clever world building, plot, and character development delivers a smooth detective linear experience that will be familiar to point-and-click adventure game lovers who want to play a stoic yet efficient inquisitor.”
- “I like that it doesn't punish you for getting things wrong, so you can carefully take your time thinking things through. I also appreciate the character designs, personalities, and voices.”
- “The game itself is great with its writing, setting, and character development as each case progresses.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity and growth.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the story.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting unpolished visuals, awkward animations, and poor performance, particularly on macOS. Many have noted issues such as typos and shallow environments, contributing to an overall lack of refinement.
- “It's unpolished and shallow, with typos, awkward wording, cardboard stuttering animations, and dull tiny environments.”
- “Performance seems to be trash.”
- “The game is extremely unoptimized on macOS.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by noticeable bugs and glitches, including issues with dialogue and animations that suggest a lack of polish. While these problems can be distracting, they are generally considered minor and do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience. However, some players have reported more severe bugs that can disrupt progression.
- “It felt like the game needed a bit more polish, as it's buggy in places and feels a bit like the developers ran out of steam or time.”
- “The game is buggy as hell.”
- “There are minor glitches and misses in this game, such as when the murderer for each case is revealing how they did it, you can bypass that to the exorcism and there's no option to go back.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by unintentionally funny voice acting, marked by overacting and mispronunciations, which some players find more amusing than bothersome. Despite these quirks, the well-designed characters contribute positively to the overall comedic experience.
- “The voice acting is unintentionally funny with overacting and lots of mispronunciations, but the characters themselves are well-designed.”
- “They were all very talented, and I found the whole thing more funny than annoying.”