INSIDE

INSIDE

June 28, 2016
Playdead ApS
4.5/5.0(35,141 reviews)
~4h playtime
Metacritic 87
ActionPuzzleAdventure

Nintendo Switch · PC · iOS · macOS · Xbox One · PlayStation 4

Mixed

Overall, players have found INSIDE to be a hauntingly beautiful experience, praised for its atmosphere, visual storytelling, and engaging puzzles, although many expressed confusion about the story and were critical of its abrupt ending. The mixed responses highlight a divide between those who appreciated the game's artistic approach and others who felt it lacked substance or clarity in its gameplay and narrative.

About This Game

INSIDE follows a nameless boy through a muted, dystopian world where every screen is at once a physics puzzle and a piece of wordless storytelling. Playdead's 2016 follow-up to Limbo trades that game's forest for laboratories, mind-control experiments and drowned facilities, staging its dread through animation and sound rather than a single line of dialogue. Reception is close to unanimous on the craft: the atmosphere, the visual storytelling and the clean puzzle-platforming draw near-universal praise. The one recurring argument is the ending, a swerve some players read as a masterstroke and others as an abrupt shrug. The puzzles rarely tax a seasoned player, so this is a game to experience for mood and momentum more than resistance. Anyone chasing hard brain-teasers should temper expectations; anyone chasing tone will remember it.

Themes

darkdystopianmysteriouspsychologicalsci-fiexploration

Mechanics

real-timelinearpuzzle-solvingplatformingstealthphysics-basedstory-drivencutscenesexplorationhidden-secrets

Platforms

Nintendo Switch
PC
iOS
macOS
Xbox One
PlayStation 4

Multiplayer

Single Player Only

Game Information

ESRB Rating:ESRB Mature
Official site:Visit site

Gameplay

Modes
Single player
Perspective
Side view

Player Reviews

Mixed

Overall, players have found INSIDE to be a hauntingly beautiful experience, praised for its atmosphere, visual storytelling, and engaging puzzles, although many expressed confusion about the story and were critical of its abrupt ending. The mixed responses highlight a divide between those who appreciated the game's artistic approach and others who felt it lacked substance or clarity in its gameplay and narrative.

Pros

  • • Incredible atmosphere and visuals
  • • Engaging and clever puzzles
  • • Original storytelling without dialogue
  • • Immersive sound design
  • • Creative design and unique gameplay mechanics

Cons

  • • Abrupt or confusing ending
  • • Gameplay perceived as overly linear
  • • Lack of clarity in narrative
  • • Some felt puzzles were too easy
  • • Controls could be cumbersome at times

Based on 100 reviews from steam

Screenshots

INSIDE — Frequently Asked Questions

Is INSIDE worth playing?
INSIDE has a mixed reception from players, holding an average score of 4.5 out of 5 across 35,141 reviews.
Is INSIDE single-player or multiplayer?
INSIDE supports single player.
What platforms is INSIDE available on?
INSIDE is available on PS4.
When did INSIDE release?
INSIDE released on June 28, 2016.
What is INSIDE's age rating?
INSIDE carries an ESRB rating of ESRB Mature.