INSIDE Reviews
Inside is a good game bordering on great.
Inside is a grimly beautiful platform-puzzler that, while brief, is packed full of jaw-dropping highlights. While its dark tone won't be for everyone, it's all been executed brilliantly, with gently taxing physics-based conundrums woven into a haunting wordless narrative.
INSIDE is still a deeply thought-provoking experience with a mystery that begs to be explored and is faithfully ported to the Switch.
Enormously atmospheric puzzle adventure with great graphic style, which captivates to the end - even on the Nintendo Switch.
Review in German | Read full review
It always feels like Playdead could have done a bit more with the gameplay by making it longer and having more complexity to some of the puzzles. Most people will feel completely bewildered when it is all over.
It doesn't matter when or where you play INSIDE: it will always be a masterpiece. Switch's portability makes this version one to be taken into account if you've never played it before. And if you love Playdead's game, the ability to play it wherever you want is tempting, to say the least.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Playdead has greatly improved how it delivers a story, but hasn't moved away from ambiguity. The latter three-quarters of Inside cheapens the otherwise refined package, only saved because the studio is the undisputed master of horrific puzzles. Ending aside, it's definitely worth a look.
While the game is short, the journey is worth it.
There are secrets to be found throughout the journey in order to unlock an alternate ending, so don't be afraid to fight the constant urge to move right toward the end. Sometimes, it's wise to try going left. Every so often you come across a game worthy of adding to the endless argument, “Are video games art?” INSIDE is one such game.
Inside is a 2D puzzle platformer that builds upon what made Limbo great, and in fact builds something greater.
INSIDE is a game that requires a player who doesn’t learn as they go along. It is a well-made game from a talented young studio, but save for the final moments has little to wow the player after the first half.
There are very few games that will provoke as much thought after you walk away from the adventure. I genuinely found myself asking “What did I just experience?” as the credits rolled. Graphically the game is gorgeous and the controls snappy and intuitive. Inside is a triumph of both storytelling and game design, what it sets out to achieve as a video game it most certainly achieves. My only criticism would be that after completing the game there is no real reason to go back (unless you didn’t get all the Achievements/Trophies) and this is only a negative because I enjoyed the game so much.
Do yourself the favor and buy Inside and play it for yourself. As far as indy titles goes it's a masterpiece. It's on the same plateau as Journey for me in that regard. Both games are absolutely phenomenal and both will stick in your head. The only difference is at the end of Journey you'll feel pretty good about the adventure you took and have a good idea about what it all meant. You don't get that with Inside. Instead I have been scratching my head ever since and to this day I still can't piece it all together. All I know is it is one of the most memorable games I've played in the last few years.
The first thing that strikes you about 2D puzzle platformer INSIDE is its visuals. The eerie dystopian environment and muted colour pallet is unsettling, and immediately haunting. Utilising minimalist white, grey and black tones, INSIDE somehow manages to be both melancholic and powerfully alluring – it’s impossible to look away.
Inside is great. It does everything a good puzzle game should do. It is top shelf material and really should be played by anyone who calls themselves gamers. You can beat it in 4 hours, and feel like you accomplished something amazing. It can get incredibly weird at times, and actually intense and frightening.
Inside manages to present an entire world, to evoke an entire universe, even without the use of any word, simply by concretizing the space around the protagonist.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In the end, I’ve no doubt INSIDE will end up being one of the most memorable experiences I’ve played this year. Its puzzles are expertly designed, its presentation staggeringly beautiful. Personally, I’m not sure its four hours of content are worth the $20 asking price, especially for an ending that leaves you with more questions than answers.
Inside shows that Playdead has a knack for the short but powerful puzzle-platformer. The puzzles are logical and challenging, while the story is told well without a reliance on the usual things like dialogue and cut scenes. The balance between both creates a game that has a ton of memorable moments, and the flow is smooth enough that you're compelled to keep playing until you reach the thought-provoking ending. With a presentation that adds greatly to the narrative, Inside is well worth your time.
Inside is the kind of game that hooks you within the first minutes with a ‘Show Don’t Tell’ style of storytelling.
Inside is a really interesting, beautiful, gloomy, atmospheric game. It certainly gets our recommendation, as one of the rare high-quality logical platforms that you will surely enjoy in almost every aspect.