Inscrpytion is a game that subverts expectations and reinvents itself, all the while employing a fundamental gameplay mechanic that is enjoyable throughout. The ingenuity wanes, however, as you progress through the game's three acts.

Nothing is as thrilling as trying to escape the old hut in the first act, and Leshy's descriptions are gripping. This is the game at its best, a robust deck builder roguelike within a tense escape room puzzle box.

The second act relies on the subversion of genre to drive the interest, while adding gameplay elements that keep things fresh, if a little overwhelming. The tension of escape from the previous act is replaced by a curiosity of exploration, as I found myself trying to connect the dots of how this act eventually becomes the first.

The last act is in similar structure to the first, but with all of the vivid description disappointingly stripped. At one point, this removal of narrative description is lampshaded - your captor mentions that "Leshy was better at that." It makes sense for the character - P03 is driven by the strategy of card games - it still makes for a duller experience than the rich world of Leshy's cabin.

Overall, Inscryption is an incredible game that never quite hits the peak of its first act. You should play it.