INFERNIUM

INFERNIUM is a unique survival horror puzzle game with a strong souls-like and metroidvania influence, set in a surreal, interconnected open world. Players explore diverse, atmospheric environments filled with eerie soundscapes and challenging enemies that must be avoided rather than fought. The game emphasizes exploration, puzzle-solving under pressure, and managing limited resources like lives and energy.

Many players appreciate the game's beautiful level design, immersive atmosphere, and the rewarding sense of discovery. However, the game is also known for its punishing difficulty, limited tutorials, and a sometimes clunky teleport mechanic that can cause frustration. The permadeath system and distant checkpoints increase tension but also lead to tedious backtracking. Accessibility options help mitigate difficulty, allowing players to tailor the experience. The story is cryptic and fragmented, delivered mostly through environmental text, which some find intriguing, while others find it hard to follow.

Overall, INFERNIUM offers a memorable, intense experience that appeals mostly to players who enjoy challenging, atmospheric exploration games and are willing to invest time to learn its systems.

Highlights

Players consistently praise INFERNIUM's stellar level design and beautiful, surreal environments, which create a captivating and immersive world. The atmospheric sound design enhances the eerie and tense mood. Gameplay mechanics like the teleportation dash and the balance of puzzle-solving under pressure are highlighted as unique and engaging. The game's souls-like vibe and metroidvania elements, including interconnected areas and gradual ability unlocks, are well received. Accessibility options allowing difficulty adjustments are appreciated for broadening the game's appeal. The Twitch integration and modding support add extra layers of fun and community engagement.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the punishing difficulty, which can feel unfair due to limited tutorials and a steep learning curve. The permadeath system and widely spaced checkpoints cause frustrating backtracking. The teleport mechanic is often described as clunky and unreliable, leading to deaths from minor aiming errors. Some players find the world too open and confusing, with insufficient guidance, resulting in aimless wandering and boredom. The story delivery through scattered, cryptic notes is seen as hard to follow, and the lack of narrative clarity detracts from engagement for some. Technical issues such as crashes have been reported but can be resolved with community help.