Inmost

Inmost is one of those games that are more an experience than a game per se.
The game tells a bleak, dark story through 3 different points of view, and there's a lot more going on beneath the surface than it lets on initially. I really don't want to spoil anything, but it's great storytelling with phenomenal usage of metaphors.
The game has a monochromatic style, where the most prominent color is blue, the most depressing color that exists, so it fits perfectly with the beats the story is going through and the feelings the game aims to evoke. The usage of light is fantastic, they use pure white as lightning, and the contrast between the opaque colors and bright white adds to the atmosphere of the game immensely. The pixel art is also pretty amazing, the game conveys the feelings through the animations perfectly.
The sound design is powerful. Even though this is a platformer, the sound hugs you, it is crunchy, loud, has texture, and is directional, which is necessary when finding the collectibles. As for the soundtrack, it complements the scenes perfectly, being those about sorrow or anger, mostly classical and of great taste.
As for the gameplay, Inmost describes itself as a "Puzzle Platformer," and I honestly don't agree. There are basically no complex puzzles, and it feels more like a narrative game with a single path forward and a bit of interactivity here and there. I never felt challenged or engaged by the gameplay, and even the brief combat encounters are pretty simple and mundane.
I strongly recommend playing Inmost in a single session, preferably on a grey rainy day or during a night alone at home, using headphones. Inmost is pretty unique and well-made, and while it lasts around 4 hours to complete, it will leave you wondering for much longer.

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

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.

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.

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.

INMOST is a surprisingly deep and emotional story. I heard people call it Silent Hill Lite :D
Made by Lithuanian indie developers, this 5 hour long game is both visually beautiful and competently crafted.
1) The visuals, aesthetic and vibe are the main drawing point and do not disappoint.
2) Music is atmospheric and voice acting may be sparse but was used effectively.
3) The gameplay is divided between the 3 interconnected characters, the knight offers some light combat, the girl offers exploration elements, and the old man is our main protagonist and offers puzzles and metroidvania.
4) I personally am glad the game is short and delivers a punchy story rather than dragging it out for gameplay reasons. Despite being a pixel game, it doesn't mean we have to go back to the design of the 90s.
5) The way death results in spawning at a previous save state is very streamlined and reduces stress, which was greatly appreciated, albeit making the game easier (but hey this is more of a story game than challenge, although there are some very challenging achievements for those types of gamers.)
6) The story was very intriguing and heart-wrenching. It may feel disjointed and confusing at first, but like Silent Hill you must invest and progress enough to bring the puzzle pieces together. I say it was worth it.
Idk why but this topic has always infuriated me: Mothers who lose their children and let that be their defining characteristic, stop being "good" people by constantly hiding behind their trauma. Even animals have shown love and surrogacy to pups of other species, so how come humans fail at being decent and compassionate?
I could never understand that.
In my culture, you simply get smacked until you correct your ways, that's why people are not permitted to let grief or pain define their future. Either smack them harder or shun & exile them, for victims are worse than their offenders. They are contaminated by hate, damaged goods, if even therapy or God's love is not enough for them, then they are truly lost. You may disagree but I simply care more about the wellbeing of children than trauma of adults. But enough of my ranting..
INMOST feels very competent, each action taken by players and the design implemented by the devs, serves towards accentuating the story.
This $4 on sale game is definitely worth checking out.