Inmost

This 2d puzzle platformer is greater than the sum of its parts and hit the sweet spot for me. Its pixel graphics initially appeared underwhelming, but I quickly grew to really appreciate them. Even the limited color palette worked in its favour. There was a dark symbolic story very well told through three different protagonists. The main part is with exploration and light puzzle solving, your character can't fight. The obstacles were fair and satisfying to pass, nothing too hard. I enjoyed discovering all the nooks and crannies. Other chapters were more narrative oriented with a little girl and fight focused with a knight. I found the game atmospheric and immersive. Animations might seem limited but were very effective. In conclusion, I didn't expect it, but this is a great game that should be as well known as other similar indie classics like Limbo, Inside and Gris.

Inmost - deepest within, farthest from the outside
The name is very fitting for what you experience throughout the game. You play through several stories and perspectives which don't seem to correlate much and feel quite abstract most of the time. But closer to the very end it all clicks together, and you get to a tragic main story and meaning behind your previous 3-4 hours. I do recommend finishing it in one go or 2-3 at most, as it helps to better grasp the overall structure and impact.
Gameplay is nothing too special, some puzzles, some minimal platforming and fighting. It's a narrative-driven game first of all, so storytelling is in main focus. Therefore, it is slow at times. Pixel art is good; music and sounds are very fitting and well done. No noticeable bugs or technical issues.
Overall, I certainly do recommend it. The topics game covers (grieve, loss, pain, happiness and so on) are pretty important. The game is worth it for the plot alone.

This game is more about the story rather than gameplay - could be important for some players who want more gameplay, for me it was fine, but more important the quality of art/music is amazing most of the stuff is unique

I had my doubts about this game right until the end, but it really comes together. The story, which seems disjointed and convoluted up to that point, comes together quite well, resolving in a memorable conclusion. The gameplay elements are fun at times, mostly in the more metroidvania-like sections, while other times can be rather slow. The music is pretty good, and the art is excellent - I was really impressed with how they were able to convey emotions with pixel art on several occasions.

Finally, the game is short and doesn't overstay its welcome. Overall recommended.

Wow. I don't recall another game hitting me in the feels like this since To the Moon, and INMOST is far more of a game than that one is.

after the game ended i started thinking about the message about pain, its got me thinking long and hard about the concept. but overall the game is fantastic 10/10

Inmost is a bleak 2D puzzle platformer that delves into pain, grief, and loss through the perspective of three characters whose paths intertwine in a perplexing, corrupted wasteland that represents the horrors of the characters’ realities revealed at the end of the story. While vague and somewhat confusing, it all came together in the last few chapters. Inmost is a bleak game with a very solid pixelated artstyle that leans into blues and blacks to maintain its dour tone throughout. The sadness and sense of forlorn longing is well conveyed throughout Inmost’s runtime, thanks in largepart to the ambient windy-rainy weather, coupled with the melancholic piano and strings. Inmost tells the story of a little girl, a “knight”, and an older man who goes by “the wanderer”. Across their journeys, which all appear to be memories of the old man, they discover more of the world around them, revealing many secrets, and interact with certain characters. Each character has a different gameplay style, where you fight corrupt creatures as the knight, and avoid them as the wanderer. The wanderer also unlocks more tools to help him traverse the vertical dungeons and abandoned buildings of the mythical kingdom, hexed by the game’s mysterious villain, “the keeper.” The game is a bit too cutscene-heavy and oftentimes too slow. The movement of the knight is the best, but the little girl moves at a snail’s pace, and the old man is alright, but could have been improved with some tweaks. The cutscenes become especially egregious in the last three to five or so sections of the game (as determined by the save select menu). These sections are all almost entirely cutscenes that serve to explain and make sense of how each of the characters’ stories are interconnected and allegorical for pain. The final explanatory passage at the end was well done, though it turned the last 15-20 minutes into a text and narrated short film more than a game.

The game is moderately tough, with one-hit deaths occurring often. So one thing I was thankful for was the generous save points and the way in which the game kept progression generally flowing smoothly. I also really appreciated the attention dedicated to controller support, especially allowing me to use my Switch Pro controller, which is the only controller I have. I think that Inmost is a decent game overall that tells a better story than the hodgepodge of decent gameplay components. It definitely dragged on at times, causing me to drop it for a while before coming back to reach the credits, and it could’ve used a bit of work in terms of speeding up gameplay. However, the somber songs, melancholic and uninviting yet oddly comforting ambience of the corrupt world, and the intriguing story told through the very solid pixel art make this a cautious recommendation, especially for those who enjoy cinematic platformers, can handle slower-paced titles, and seek out creepy atmospheres.