Inside is a side scrolling puzzle platform video game developed and published by Playdead. The game was released on June 29, 2016 for Xbox One followed by Windows on July 7, 2016. On August 23 that same year, it was released on Playstation 4. IOS got the game on December 15th, 2017 followed by the Nintendo Switch getting it on June 28, 2018. On June 23rd, 2020, macOS got the game.
Inside offers a side-scrolling perspective, placing players in the role of a young boy. The game emphasizes puzzle-solving and exploration as players guide the protagonist through various environments, such as forests, factories, and research facilities. The gameplay mechanics are intuitive, allowing for fluid movement, jumping, climbing, and interacting with objects in the environment.
Puzzles form the core gameplay element in the game, with challenges ranging from physics-based obstacles to manipulating the environment and interacting with other characters or objects. The puzzles seamlessly integrate with the narrative, encouraging players to think creatively and discover hidden paths or solutions. The game’s difficulty gradually increases, offering a satisfying sense of accomplishment as players overcome increasingly complex obstacles.
Inside is renowned for its atmospheric storytelling, relying on environmental cues, visual symbolism, and minimal dialogue to convey its narrative. You start the game as the boy slides down a rocky hill. Though we don’t know anything about the boy, we soon discover that he lives in a dystopian world. The world is a grim, oppressive world where a totalitarian regime exerts control over its inhabitants. The inhabitants are all mindless zombie like creatures. As the young boy progresses through the bleak environments, he encounters a series of disturbing scenes and puzzles, gradually unveiling the unsettling secrets of this dystopian society.
While the story of Inside is open to interpretation, it raises thought-provoking questions about conformity, power, and human nature. The game’s abstract and ambiguous nature allows players to form their own theories and interpretations, fostering discussions and creating a unique experience for each player.
Throughout the game there’s hidden light orbs that can be turned off. I didn’t get all of them, but if you do it unlocks an alternate ending where pulling a plug turns the boy into one of the mindless citizens depicted in the game.
