Games like The Stanley Parable or Inside do a lot with atmosphere and/or meta-narrative to appear one way, but drastically change into something else. But they’re a little hand-holdy and don’t have much mechanical depth; you’re meant to progress, not to necessarily experiment or investigate beyond what the game is (sometimes literally) telling you to do.

Inscryption starts as a lean, but surprisingly deep deckbuilder. You’re playing a sort of card game/tabletop RPG against a shadowy figure. Then he literally asks you to stand up from the table to fetch something, and the game becomes something else, as well.

Without spoiling anything, the game keeps becoming new things. Many times over, you will feel like you’re coming up to the end of Inscryption only to have another layer peeled back - not just in terms of the mysterious story, but engaging new gameplay mechanics and puzzles. There seems to be no limit to the clever ideas and ways to play that Inscryption throws at you.

I didn’t want it to end. And once again, no spoilers - but the game plays off of that feeling, as well.

In the same way that I think everyone needs to at least try Celeste, even if you hate difficult platforming (which I certainly do), Inscryption is a must-play even if you’re worn out on deckbuilding roguelikes. It insists on being much, MUCH more than that.

Ok, one spoiler:
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If you finish the game and want more, search “Inscryption ARG”.