INSIDE is a 2.5D puzzle platformer adventure game developed by Playdead that made LIMBO. The player will control a boy in a dystopic world to solve challenging environmental puzzle to avoid death.

Website link: http://www.playdead.com/games/inside/

Gameplay video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1FU-T2EsVA&t=4116s

Elemental tetrad

Story

A little boy found himself in a dystopic world and trying to figure out the mysteries that are happening around him.

Mechanic

• Arrow keys to walk and jump, Control Key to interact with environment
• Solve environmental puzzle to progress through the level or to avoid the enemy

Aesthetics

• 2.5D adventure platformer
• Monochromatic world that creates a spooky and dark environment

Technology

• Customized Unity 5 engine
• Runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox one

Analysis of game through lens:

The lens of secrets

At some parts of the game, players might discover hidden rooms that contains glowing orbs. If all glowing orbs are collected, the player can unlock an alternate ending.

The lens of challenge

The player can die in a number of ways if not careful or quick enough, mutilated by dogs, being shot by tranquilizer dart, blown apart by shockwaves or drowning. Although the challenges don’t scale according to the level, but new challenges are introduced instead.

The lens of puzzle

INSIDE is about solving puzzle to proceed to the next environment.

Example of puzzle principles applied:

• Easy to get started

The environmental puzzle are very easy to interact with only control and arrow buttons.

• Goals are easily understood

Goals of the puzzle are often the obstacles that are preventing the player from progressing. For example, to reach a higher ground.

• Sense of progress

Player will be able to feel like they progressed to the next area or level when they solved the puzzle to overcome the obstacles.

The lens of atmosphere

The game is very dark and mostly silent with some musical cues to represent a dystopic world.

The lens of simplicity / complexity

The game has very simple graphical look and interaction. Only control key and arrow buttons are needed to interact with the object. However, the mechanic of the object that are interact with can produce complex results. For example, swinging on the rope to produce more momentum.

The lens of Actions

The little boy in the game can only run from enemy or interact with objects. The player must rely on basic controls to interact with the environment to outsmart the enemy.

The lens of curiosity

The game is set on a dystopic world where there are full or mystery like walking dead body and ability to control the dead which will cause a lot of curiosity on what is going on in that world.