Skip to main content

Lucifer Within Us

Lucifer Within Us is absolutely one of my top 10 titles of 2020, and if you love detective games, I’m positive you’ll unveil the truth that it’ll be one of yours as well.
Lucifer Within Us Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
replayability, grinding
74% User Score Based on 588 reviews
Critic Score 90%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

PCMac OSWindows
Lucifer Within Us Game Cover

About

Lucifer Within Us is a single player simulation game with drama and mystery themes. It was developed by Kitfox Games and was released on October 15, 2020. It received positive reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"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.

Skip User Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 588 reviews
gameplay183 positive mentions
replayability8 negative mentions

  • Innovative timeline mechanic for solving contradictions in testimonies, making the investigation process engaging.
  • Intriguing cyber-religious setting with strong world-building and character design.
  • Well-written narrative with good voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
  • Extremely short gameplay, with only 2-3 hours of content, leaving players wanting more.
  • Lack of replayability due to the linear structure and predictable outcomes.
  • Ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, resembling a setup for a sequel rather than a complete story.
  • gameplay
    364 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Lucifer Within Us" is characterized by innovative mechanics centered around deduction and contradiction, allowing players to unravel mysteries through a timeline of testimonies. However, the experience is notably short, averaging only 2-4 hours, which many reviewers feel undermines the potential of its engaging mechanics and intriguing setting. While the core gameplay loop is enjoyable and well-executed, the limited content and straightforward nature of the cases leave players wanting more depth and complexity.

    • “The detective mechanics are really novel and compelling; you really feel like you are unraveling a mystery.”
    • “The gameplay revolves around methodical deduction rather than action, reflexes, or traditional puzzle-solving.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are very solid; the act of interviewing different suspects on the scene of a murder while cross-referencing their stories and evidence and watching and questioning their timelines is fantastic.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game only has the tutorial and two additional cases, so like every other review, I will say it is too short for the price, and the mechanics are not sufficiently explored.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely short at only 2–3 hours total (takes just an evening), and the linear structure allows players to brute-force the correct solution rather easily in case there is any confusion.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are very solid, the act of interviewing different suspects on the scene of a murder while cross-referencing their stories and evidence and watching and questioning their timelines is fantastic, but there is basically no content to this game.”
  • story
    324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring an intriguing premise and engaging characters, but ultimately suffers from its brevity, with only three missions that feel more like a prologue to a larger narrative. While some players appreciate the unique setting and compelling twists, many express disappointment over the rushed pacing and lack of depth, leaving them wanting more content and resolution. Overall, the story is seen as a promising foundation that could benefit from expansion in a potential sequel.

    • “However, I appreciate that they didn't half-ass anything just to pad runtime, and they wrapped up the story in a satisfying way.”
    • “The game has a fun concept of trying to solve the murders with a nice story surrounding it.”
    • “The story has an intriguing premise, but the pacing makes it feel more like an experiment or a prototype rather than a fully realized game.”
    • “The story is very short.”
    • “The plot never builds up to anything exciting; it just goes through without any twist or deeper meaning.”
    • “The narrative does not really conclude and instead ends on what feels like a setup for a larger story.”
  • graphics
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful art style, engaging visuals, and high production values, effectively complementing the gameplay and narrative. Many reviewers highlighted the unique aesthetic that blends sci-fi and religious themes, creating an intriguing atmosphere. However, some technical issues, such as resolution problems and performance drops on higher settings, were noted, which detracted from the overall experience.

    • “The aesthetic doesn’t overpower the investigative mechanics — it supports them — keeping your focus on details and contradictions rather than distracting flourishes.”
    • “Brilliant detective mechanics wrapped in a fantastic display of artistry & aesthetic - it is beyond a doubt one of the best games I've played this year!”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The visuals accompanying the testimonies are too revealing and show more detail than the witness states.”
  • replayability
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game suffers from extremely low replayability, with many players noting that the experience is short (typically 2-5 hours) and linear, making subsequent playthroughs feel redundant. While some players appreciate the initial enjoyment and aesthetic quality, the lack of varied content and the inability to alter outcomes significantly diminish motivation to replay. Many recommend waiting for a substantial discount before purchasing, as the limited replay value does not justify the full price.

    • “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).”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Replay value is also limited because the cases unfold the same way on subsequent playthroughs, and the satisfaction comes primarily from the first moment of unraveling each mystery.”
    • “Overall the replayability is pretty much zero, and whilst the story is somewhat interesting there is not much motivation to continue investigating murders.”
    • “That said, it can be hard to justify a 20 dollar price tag for a game that's somewhat short, lacks replayability, and seems to have misleading trailers on the store page.”
  • music
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its haunting quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, contributing to an immersive experience. While some found the music to be more inoffensive than captivating, the overall consensus highlights its appropriateness and effectiveness in complementing the art and voice acting. The combination of strong sound design and a unique aesthetic creates a compelling auditory backdrop that enriches the gameplay.

    • “The art and soundtrack were great, and I loved its unique aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics look great, the music is haunting, the mysteries are interesting and solvable without having any massive leaps that the genre is notorious for.”
    • “The characters have great voice acting, the music is strong, the whole game is one of those that takes you into another world.”
    • “Sometimes the music doesn't exactly add a lot to the storytelling.”
    • “Art style, voice acting, and music were decent.”
    • “They do not take into account everything else about the game, such as its fun mechanics, engaging story, amazing voice acting, and an incredible atmosphere from its design, art, and music.”
  • atmosphere
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Lucifer Within Us" is consistently praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, blending elements of dread, philosophical tension, and a unique techno-religious setting. The game's isometric view, combined with effective voice acting, a haunting soundtrack, and thoughtful design choices, creates a compelling and meditative tone that enhances the narrative experience. Overall, players appreciate how the atmospheric elements work together to evoke a sense of paranoia and intrigue throughout the detective journey.

    • “Combined with the reserved voice acting and atmospheric score, the game builds a tense, meditative tone that fits its themes of sin, truth, and redemption.”
    • “The game wastes no time immersing you in this uneasy hybrid world, establishing an atmosphere of quiet dread and philosophical tension that permeates every case.”
    • “The isometric view allows for clear presentation of clues and interactions, while subtle animation and lighting choices build an atmosphere of quiet foreboding.”
    • “The writing, art, and music all come together very nicely for an increasingly paranoid and occult atmosphere.”
  • emotional
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its exploration of moral complexities and human frailty, though some players feel that character development, particularly for Sister Ada, is lacking. While the game sets up a compelling and heartbreakingly immersive world, many reviewers express disappointment with the brevity of the experience and a desire for deeper emotional connections and narrative resolution. Overall, the game shows significant potential for emotional depth but falls short in fully realizing it.

    • “This layer gives each case emotional weight, pushing the investigations beyond simple whodunits toward explorations of moral failure and the frailty of human nature.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, particularly during repetitive playback phases and evidence gathering, which detracts from the overall experience. While completionists may appreciate the challenge of achieving 100%, many feel that the grind for achievements is not rewarding enough to justify the effort. Overall, the grinding elements contribute to a sense of monotony that can overshadow the game's more enjoyable features.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is notably poor, particularly on macOS, with users reporting significant performance issues, unpolished visuals, and awkward animations. While the voice acting is praised for its depth, the overall experience is marred by typos and a lack of refinement in the game's environments.

    • “Short but fun mystery story, with compelling visual style and voice performances.”
    • “The game features layered voice acting that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The optimization issues are noticeable, particularly on macOS.”
    • “It's unpolished and shallow, with typos, awkward wording, cardboard stuttering animations, and dull tiny environments.”
    • “Also, performance seems to be trash.”
    • “The game is extremely unoptimized on macOS.”
  • stability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is marked by several minor glitches and clunky mechanics, typical of indie titles, which can disrupt the experience but are generally not game-breaking. Players have reported issues such as dialogue cut-offs and animation errors, indicating a need for further polish. Overall, while the game has noticeable bugs, they do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “However, you can feel it is an indie game by some of the clunky mechanics and random dialogue glitches.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • character development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is praised for its strong writing, engaging personalities, and impressive voice acting, particularly highlighted in the design of characters like Lucifer. Players appreciate the clever world-building and the opportunity to explore character growth without the pressure of punitive mechanics, enhancing the overall experience in this detective adventure.

    • “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, allowing you to take your time to think things through. The character designs, personalities, and voices are also very well done.”
    • “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 intriguing premise, the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the story.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by its unintentionally funny voice acting, marked by overacting and mispronunciations, which some players find amusing rather than bothersome. Additionally, the predictability of the plot adds a layer of absurdity that contributes to the overall comedic experience, making it enjoyable for many.

    • “It's hilariously weird to me.”
    • “The voice acting is unintentionally funny with overacting and lots of mispronunciations, but the characters themselves are well-designed.”
    • “They were all very talented though and I found the whole thing more funny than annoying.”
Skip Critic Reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Lucifer Within Us

3h Median play time
3h Average play time
2h Main story
5h Completionist
2-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Lucifer Within Us

Games Like Lucifer Within Us

The Operator Image
Unheard Image
The Case of the Golden Idol Image
Paradise Killer Image
Tangle Tower Image
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Lucifer Within Us is a simulation game with drama and mystery themes.

Lucifer Within Us is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

The main story can be completed in around 2 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 5 hours to finish. On average players spend around 3 hours playing Lucifer Within Us.

Lucifer Within Us was released on October 15, 2020.

Lucifer Within Us was developed by Kitfox Games.

Lucifer Within Us has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its replayability.

Lucifer Within Us is a single player game.

Similar games include The Operator, Unheard, The Case of the Golden Idol, Paradise Killer, Tangle Tower and others.