10 Video Games That Aren't What You Think

2. Inscription

Cards on the table, pun fully intended, this is the game that made me want to write this list.

At first, Inscription appears to be a Slay The Spire-esque card game but with a creepy cabin in the woods aesthetic. Your opponent is shrouded in darkness but otherwise the game appears to follow the fairly concrete rules common in most card-based games. This is true of the first two hours of the game. Or six hours depending on how long it takes you to learn how to defeat the Trapper, the final boss of the first act of the game.

I won’t spoil what unfolds but you’ll encounter elements including full-motion videos, a significant narrative meta story, an overworld, and in-game characters that evolve to be nothing like what you might have expected. The game is genuinely fascinating. It blends elements of roguelikes, card games, puzzling, and deep exploration, not to mention horror elements and a healthy dose of messing with your hard drive.

And why wouldn’t it, it’s made by the same guy who made Pony Island.