Invisible, Inc. Released, Reviews

It’s a bit of a pity that Invisible, Inc., Klei Entertainment’s turn-based infiltration game, is currently being overshadowed by bigger upcoming releases like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, because the title has just been released and is looking very interesting. The game was previously available on Steam Early Access, and is getting very positive reviews, like this piece from Eurogamer that recommends the game:

That’s when it hit me. This was a perfect moment to take a drone and use it in a way that no drone should ever be used. Drones are expensive, right? AI? Lots of advanced hover technology? Plenty of moving parts. Well, I took all of that and I parked it in front of the door my fleeing fourth man had just raced through, blocking it for a single, crucial turn. In the grid-based world of Invisible, Inc, I had found a way to survive against the odds: the security guards couldn’t get to the door because they couldn’t get past the drone. And this drone wasn’t budging.

The game’s filled with moments like this. All strategy games are, of course, or at least that’s the patter. Such patter undersells the achievement here, though. Perhaps due to its compact nature, Invisible, Inc has a peculiar genius for procedural narrative, for creating tense, unlikely tales filled with daring escapes and truly monumental screw-ups. It’s exhausting to play at times, but that’s because of the emotional investment, because of the need to process the useful stuff you’ve just learned and memorise the nutty stuff that just happened.

Destructoid was also enthusiastic, and awarded it a perfect 10/10.

The turn-based stealth gameplay is empowering, but fraught and fleeting each time you dive deeper into one of the world’s least architecturally sensible corporate buildings, rooms budding off rooms, some empty, some dangerous, all necessary. It’s a fight to stay equally matched with your enemies and make it to the end. Things can and will go wrong. Sometimes life-saving maneuvering just delays an impending, inevitable loss as you bring the full weight of the guard down on your head. And it’s almost always your own damn fault, which is why you’ll try again.

IGN, 8.5/10.

Invisible Inc is a thrilling turn-based spy game. Though it fails to tap its colorful characters for story material and personality beyond their unique abilities, its randomized maps and spy equipment make sneaking past the enemy AI for maximum profit a tough and repeatable challenge.

GameRevolution, 3.5/5.

Despite its shortcomings, Invisible, Inc. offers a nerve-wracking campaign in which decisions and consequences truly matter. Even on the most mundane missions I was constantly on edge while guards patrolled surrounding areas. It doesn’t feel like a complete experience in some specific areas, but the combination of challenge and stealth gameplay provides a refreshing change of pace for the beloved genre.

Hardcore Gamer, 3.5/5.

Though it’s by no means the perfect tactics title, there’s something strangely fresh about Klei’s combination of turn-based gameplay and stealth. While its artstyle creates a fair amount of clutter and its constant story seems ill-conceived, there’s no denying that this brutally challenging title will entertain hardcore fans for numerous hours. If you’re willing to put in the time to climb its steep learning curve, you’ll likely find yourself deeply satisfied as you escape tense situations over and over. Klei Entertainment has once again proven themselves to be at the forefront of creating endless replay value, all while wrecking backlogs near and far.

GameRant, 4/5.

For the most part, Invisible, Inc. functions perfectly, and when all the pieces are working together, there’s no feeling quite like it. Carrying a wounded agent who possesses some vital info to the extraction point, enemy guards hot on your heels, is exhilarating; successfully pulling the escape off is even more so. Invisible, Inc. is a game that plays by clearly defined rules, and forces players to do so, too. It’s not perfect and it’s fairly complicated, but once it all clicks, it’s also really fun. What more can you really ask?

Attack of the Fanboy, 4.5/5.

While not all Early Access stories are positive, Invisible Inc is an example of Valve’s controversial program done right. Klei Entertainment’s evolution of stealth and risk reward mechanics have been polished to near perfection throughout this campaign, and feedback from the community has been a major part of that evolution. Invisible Inc. is smart and stylish, and delectable for fans of stealth or strategy.

Arcade Sushi, 8.5/10.

It might not be a game for players that aren’t looking to be challenged, but Invisible, Inc. is a great stealth experience despite a couple of minor setbacks. The odds are stacked against you at all times and every decision you make has weight to it, which would be the case if you were actually trying to infiltrate a high security operation. The great characters and art style do help wrap this game up in a nice package and the high replay value more than offsets the length of a single playthrough. The repetitive layouts and high barrier for entry, especially outside of the lowest difficulty, do hurt the game a bit. Invisible, Inc. is never unfair in its difficulty though, so it’s really a matter of if you’re willing to learn everything you need to in order to succeed in this game.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun, scoreless.

You should buy Invisible, Inc. because, like I said, I think it’s the best turn-based strategy game to come out in years. But you should love it because it’s a creative endeavour that offers such rich moments. Just don’t let this sneaking masterpiece slip you by.

Kotaku, YES.

OK, so maybe it’s not quite perfect, but I still love this game. It’s strategic, it’s flexible, it’s empowering. It even has a really cool sense of style, with great characters and some gorgeous flourishes in the animation. This is a game anyone who cares for tactics, espionage or just good times on a PC really needs to check out.