Inkulinati — Beastly Chess
Review
I’ve often thought of medieval manuscripts as a kind of analogue technology: scribes could scrape the vellum or palimpsest to print something new, similar to how a hard drive could be formatted to install a new program or game. Vellum was an expensive material, and the space to print and illustrate was precious. Inkulinati gives off that aesthetic: like a palimpsest that monks would use and reuse many times for ink battles.
There is an old Latin phrase: audio, video, disco. I listen, I see, I learn. I took the time to learn the basic and intermediate lessons first, Hildegard’s Course for Beginners, all with double stars. And even playing on and off Easy/Normal, the Journey mode kept me challenged just enough. Inkulinati is fairly hard to learn, and harder to master, but still accessible for an average player with limited gaming time.
Roguelite Agency
Roguelites are supposed to be hard, but not too hard, hence lite. They don’t have to follow every design feature of the Berlin Interpretation. Inkulinati does not include random map generation, permadeath, grid-based movement, non-modality, and so on. The main draw is in its layered turn-based combat with a great use of environment and different objects to interact with.
Some turn-based combat games tend to turn into a puzzle more than a tactical challenge. The player has to find the exact same solution devised by the developers, and often in the exact same order. Inkulinati avoids that with a lot of variety in Beasts, Talents, and Hand Actions as you progress through the Journey. Your choices during certain events also shape the way you play and how you face the challenges.
Bestial Aesthetics
The overarching design and user experience are smooth: no crashes, freezes, glitches, or bugs. I know the game was in Early Access for a considerable time, which explains how polished the experience is. The time lapses between chapters in the battles could be a bit shorter; sometimes I felt impatient waiting for the beasts to wake up from their slumber after their turns end.
The deck-building elements are well-tested and solid. It feels a bit like Slay the Spire but in a more vertical design in the battles. Synergies are not quite as complex either, but I prefer the simplicity in this system; Slay the Spire can be very random because of the complexity of the synergies. Inkulinati has some RNG other than the hit damage QTE, which is possibly its weakest mechanic.
Farts and Exploding Puppies
The main story is a madcap adventure full of quirky characters and jokes. The game does not take itself seriously at all, which at first is fairly funny and interesting. In my second Journey run, however, I wish there was more depth to the plotline; maybe a bit of mystery and intrigue here and there. And while the Journey is different for every run, you still face some of the same Masters at the end of every map.
The visual design is stunning and sometimes hilarious. Rabbits farting and hares throwing exploding puppies; damn dirty apes terrorizing your beasts by throwing poison at them. And so on. It’s a dark, twisted bestiary drawn by drunk monks. The art style is unique but at the same time faithful to bestiaries and medieval marginalia in general. The mechanics go well together with the variety of levels and beasts.
Ink for Blood
Inkulinati will appeal to fans of turn-based tactics looking for a fun roguelite. Those looking for challenge will have plenty, but not as much as they would with a more rigorously difficult roguelike. If you take the time to think before each move and calculate its repercussions, you will definitely find Inkulinati engaging: like a layered, vertical chess. Except that your pawns like to fart at their adversaries.
It is also a perfect companion for two other games I love: Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Pentiment. Medieval-themed games have come a long way in the past decade, and these two games were at the forefront of a new approach to historical realism that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Inkulinati does not take itself seriously at all, but neither did the authors of bestiaries—at least that’s what medievalists say these days.
Disclosure: Inkulinati was reviewed on PC with a Steam key provided by the publisher over the course of 28 hours of play time. All screenshots attached were captured during the review process.
Rating: 8.5 / Recommended.
The Good
Stunning visual design;
Fun turn-based combat;
Simple but effective synergies;
Hilarious beast design;
Decent replay value.
The Bad
Thin campaign storyline;
Sluggish chapter transitions.
Gallery
Inkulinati is available on Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. More information is available on the developer website.