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The Inner World

Despite a few illogical puzzles and poor controls, The Inner World’s writing shines through to create a decent, amusing adventure.
The Inner World Game Cover
83%Game Brain Score
story, humor
stability, grinding
87% User Score Based on 392 reviews
Critic Score 74%Based on 4 reviews

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The Inner World Game Cover

About

The Inner World is a single player arcade puzzle game with fantasy, comedy and kids themes. It was developed by Studio Fizbin and was released on September 27, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In "The Inner World," explore the mysterious kingdom of Asposia, hidden inside a hollow rock, and uncover a conspiracy that threatens its unique inhabitants. Play as Robert, a naive and kind-hearted novice, and his companion, a rebellious and brave thief named Laura, as they solve puzzles and navigate a captivating story full of humor and intrigue. Unravel the secrets of Asposia's wind system, secret societies, and ancient prophecies to save the world from impending doom.

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The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
The Inner World screenshot
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87%
Audience ScoreBased on 392 reviews
story122 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • Charming and whimsical art style with a unique world and engaging characters.
  • The hint system is well-designed, providing useful nudges without giving away solutions.
  • The story is light-hearted and humorous, with clever dialogue that keeps players entertained.
  • The game is plagued by bugs, including crashes and loading issues that can disrupt gameplay.
  • Some puzzles are illogical or overly abstract, leading to frustration and reliance on hints.
  • The dialogue can be lengthy and tedious, slowing down the pacing of the game.
  • story
    221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is widely praised for its charm, humor, and engaging characters, set in a whimsical world that balances light-heartedness with darker undertones. While some players found the plot predictable and simple, many appreciated its imaginative elements and the emotional depth that unfolds as the narrative progresses. Overall, it is considered a delightful point-and-click adventure that effectively combines storytelling with enjoyable gameplay.

    • “Honestly, I thought the plot would be too weird for me with 'wind fountains' and all, but because of the incredibly positive reviews, I figured I'd give it a try... so I just finished playing 2 hours in one sitting, and the story effectively captured my attention right away... it's wonderful!”
    • “The story is fun and engaging, characters are likable and some are really funny, and the English localization sounds great too!”
    • “The story and overall feel gets deeper and richer the more you play on; at the start, you feel like you're on a quick errand, but it soon becomes clear there's more going on.”
    • “When the ending comes you realize that the game is relatively short, and the story doesn't go deep into anything.”
    • “The puzzles were not always logical, the story didn't really engross me, and the dialogs really bored me.”
    • “My interest nevertheless progressively dwindled once the novelty wore off and the plot turned into a more conventional cliché.”
  • humor
    100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its charming and quirky dialogue, funny characters, and clever writing. While some found the humor to be dry or even misogynistic, others enjoyed the lighthearted and sometimes dark comedic elements that complemented the engaging story and puzzles. Overall, the game strikes a balance between innocence and cynicism, appealing to those who enjoy imaginative and humorous point-and-click adventures.

    • “Overall, the game is charming and actually quite funny.”
    • “The story writing is very interesting and the dialogues are funny.”
    • “Funny characters and jokes, great story, and good puzzles.”
    • “Most of the jokes were dry and unfunny, and many were even misogynistic.”
    • “It's so dull, I can't get into the characters at all. I don't get if the 'jokes' are supposed to be funny or ironically funny.”
    • “Too much dialogue that is not funny or relevant to the gameplay.”
  • graphics
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful hand-drawn art style, charming character designs, and well-executed animations, contributing to an engaging atmosphere. While some players find the visuals simplistic or flat, many appreciate the unique aesthetic and attention to detail in the environments. Overall, the graphics enhance the storytelling and gameplay experience, making it a visually appealing adventure.

    • “The backdrops are beautifully done, and I liked the art style of the characters.”
    • “An original world, story, and characters, presented in beautiful hand-drawn graphics combined with conventional but very well-executed point-and-click mechanics and increasingly challenging puzzles make this a solid recommendation.”
    • “The characters are lovable, the soundtrack is very fitting, and the art style is unique.”
    • “The hand-drawn graphics work well enough, but felt a bit too flat and simplistic for my taste.”
    • “Graphics aren't ugly but not really high-end either.”
    • “This is one of their earlier attempts, so things like the graphics are not as polished as their later games are.”
  • music
    55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its relaxing qualities and fitting integration into the gameplay. While the soundtrack is often described as amazing and atmospheric, some players mentioned a lack of variety, with certain tracks repeating too frequently. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersion.

    • “Great game, great soundtrack.”
    • “Fanciful story, beautiful music, clever puzzles.”
    • “The music and sound effects are just perfect, and the characters are relatable, evocative, funny, and even adorable.”
    • “Rather a musical puzzle that, heresy, not only requires a keyboard, it requires dexterity: keys must be pressed simultaneously, and since the thing is very finicky, half the attempts are punished with a complete reset.”
    • “Also, I felt there was a missed opportunity to add some better atmosphere with better background music.”
    • “The only drawback is that there is not enough variety in the music; some songs play over and over.”
  • gameplay
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally well-received, characterized by classic point-and-click mechanics, engaging puzzles, and a charming story set in a beautifully crafted world. However, some players noted issues such as bugs, frustrating puzzles, and excessive dialogue that detracted from the experience. While the game introduces some unique mechanics, like the flute-nose puzzle, many felt these could have been explored further for a richer gameplay experience.

    • “One of my favorite adventure games; great story and very fun gameplay.”
    • “An original world, story, and characters, presented in beautiful hand-drawn graphics combined with conventional but very well-executed point-and-click mechanics and increasingly challenging puzzles make this a solid 'recommended' at full price and a no-brainer to pick up during a sale, offering an easy 10-15 hours of fun gameplay (if you don't use the help system).”
    • “The game has nice gameplay, good visuals, an interesting story, and a wonderful soundtrack.”
    • “But it barely has a chance to investigate its mechanics and uniqueness before the experience is over.”
    • “I'm several hours into the game and haven't enjoyed a minute of gameplay.”
    • “Too much dialogue that is not funny or relevant to the gameplay.”
  • stability
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has been reported to have several bugs and glitches, particularly on Windows 10, where players experienced issues like black screens and freezing during interactions. However, many users noted that while the game is buggy, these issues are generally not game-breaking, and it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires improvements in stability, but it remains playable.

    • “I played it on Steam Deck, and the game runs great and is actually very convenient despite having to use the trackpad for navigation.”
    • “So buggy on Windows 10, it ends on a black screen after Robert and Laura escape to the Root Forest.”
    • “If you interact with something while Robert is walking, the game freezes; well, it doesn't 'freeze', but you can't do anything for a good amount of seconds.”
    • “First and foremost, the game is still buggy.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming narrative and charming characters, evoking feelings of kindness and innocence. While it may not deliver the intense emotional drama found in some other titles, players appreciate its touching story, great voice acting, and the ability to elicit genuine emotional responses, including moments that may bring a tear to the eye. Overall, the game successfully balances lightheartedness with emotional depth, making it a memorable experience.

    • “He has such a kind and naive innocence, and it makes his interactions with others a little heartwarming.”
    • “Such a cute and beautiful game, the story is suspenseful and really heartwarming; I might have shed a tear in the end.”
    • “Looking back on it, the whole loopy damaged 'inner world' of this game is that rare and wonderful thing, an awkward metaphor that is actually touching and really not at all embarrassing.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its beauty and relaxing qualities, enhanced by good voice acting and engaging dialogue. However, some players feel that certain locations are overly bleak and that the background music could be improved to better complement the atmosphere. Overall, the unique world and well-balanced puzzles contribute positively to the immersive experience.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible.”
    • “I recommend this game for its unique and wonderful world, atmospheric music, fun dialogue, and well-balanced puzzles.”
    • “The atmosphere is relaxing and the story quite original; I recommend it :)”
    • “I felt that the atmosphere created by the different locations was a bit too bleak with little variation.”
    • “I felt there was a missed opportunity to add some better atmosphere with improved background music.”
    • “The atmosphere is relaxing, but it lacks depth and engagement.”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring precise clicking to interact with items, which detracts from engagement and challenge. The weak logic of puzzles and unlikeable characters further contribute to a lackluster experience, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an enjoyable adventure. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback that hampers the game's potential.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Tedious; I played through to the end but did not feel particularly challenged or engaged. It gets to the point where you click through every conceivable connection as the logic of the solutions is extremely weak.”
    • “This game stands out for its unlikeable characters, tedious and unintuitive puzzles, and bad dialogue.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is praised for its harmonious balance between design, animation, and dialogue, which effectively contributes to exposition and world-building. The originality of the character designs enhances the depth and growth of the characters throughout the game.

    • “Moreover, the character designs, the animation behaviors alongside actions and conversations were perfectly balanced and quite harmonious.”
    • “The character design is also original.”
    • “Moreover, the character designs, the animation behaviors alongside actions and conversation were perfectly balanced and quite harmonious.”
    • “Original is also the character design.”
    • “It provides a lot of exposition, character development, and world building.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game generally runs smoothly, though it has experienced occasional crashes without loss of progress. The dialogue is notably slow-paced and well-articulated, contributing to a relaxing auditory experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly in general, although it did crash on more than one occasion, but no progress was lost at any time.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization of the game is praised for being thoughtfully implemented, avoiding the pitfalls of generic cash grab models often seen in modern point-and-click games, and instead reflecting a genuine passion for the genre.

  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is criticized for having no replay value, indicating that players do not find incentives to revisit it after completing the initial experience.

    • “There is no replay value.”
    • “The game lacks any incentive to play again after finishing it.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there's little reason to return.”
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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
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6h Median play time
7h Average play time
5-11h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Inner World is a arcade puzzle game with fantasy, comedy and kids themes.

The Inner World is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing The Inner World.

The Inner World was released on September 27, 2013.

The Inner World was developed by Studio Fizbin.

The Inner World has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Inner World is a single player game.

Similar games include The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk, The Night of the Rabbit, The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav, Deponia, Anna's Quest and others.