Inside: A Masterclass in Misery You Won't Want to Put Down

Playdead's Inside is the kind of game that grabs you by the collar in its opening seconds and never lets go. Originally released in 2016, this side-scrolling puzzle-platformer has found yet another home on the Nintendo Switch 2, and it remains as hauntingly effective as ever. You control a nameless boy running through a dystopian world filled with mind control, industrial horror, and things far worse than death. There's no HUD, no dialogue, no tutorial — just you, the darkness, and the overwhelming need to find out what lies at the end. I played through it in essentially one sitting, and I suspect most people will do the same.

Wokeness: 0.0

Inside has absolutely zero agenda beyond telling its bleak, atmospheric story. There are no ham-fisted messages, no modern political posturing, no diversity checkboxes being ticked. The game is a pure artistic vision — a boy running through a nightmare. Any themes of authoritarianism or conformity are baked into the world organically and serve the narrative rather than lecturing the player. This is a game made by people who wanted to craft an experience, not push a sermon. Refreshingly clean.

Gameplay: 8.0

The controls are tight, responsive, and deliberately simple — you run, jump, grab, and interact. That's it. But Playdead wrings an astonishing amount of variety from this limited toolset. Puzzles escalate in complexity without ever feeling unfair, and the game introduces new mechanics at a pace that keeps you constantly engaged. Death comes swiftly and often gruesomely, but checkpoints are generous enough that frustration never sets in. On the Switch 2, performance is flawless — no frame drops, no input lag. My only minor gripe is that a few puzzles lean slightly on trial-and-error, but they're brief enough to forgive.

Story: 8.0

Inside tells its story entirely through environmental storytelling, and it's masterful at it. You'll piece together what's happening through observation — the marching lines of mindless humans, the underwater horrors, the sterile laboratories. The game never explains itself, and that ambiguity is its greatest strength. The final act is genuinely shocking and will stick with you long after the credits roll. It's the kind of narrative that rewards discussion and interpretation, and years later people are still debating what it all means. That's the mark of something special.

Graphics: 8.0

Visually, Inside operates on a principle of less is more. The muted color palette, the layered backgrounds, and the stunning use of light and shadow create an atmosphere that few games can match. Character animations are remarkably lifelike — the boy stumbles, struggles, and reacts to the world with a physicality that sells every moment. On the Switch 2's screen, the darker scenes pop with impressive clarity. It's not a technical powerhouse by modern standards, but its art direction is so confident and cohesive that it doesn't need to be.

Audio: 9.0

The sound design in Inside is nothing short of exceptional. There's barely any music for most of the game, and that restraint makes the moments where it does appear all the more impactful. Instead, you're surrounded by ambient noise — distant machinery, splashing water, the boy's panicked breathing. Every sound serves a purpose, whether it's building tension or providing subtle puzzle cues. The sparse, droning score that creeps in during key moments is genuinely unsettling. Play this one with headphones. You won't regret it.

Replayability: 5.0

This is where Inside takes its biggest hit. A first playthrough clocks in at roughly three to four hours, and once you've experienced the story and solved the puzzles, there's less incentive to return. There is a secret ending tied to collectible orbs hidden throughout the game, which adds some replay value for completionists. But the puzzles don't change, the path doesn't branch, and the experience is largely the same on repeat visits. It's a brilliant single-serving experience, but it is ultimately a single serving.

Inside is a masterpiece of atmosphere and design that proves a game doesn't need dozens of hours or sprawling open worlds to leave a lasting impression. It's lean, focused, and utterly confident in what it wants to be. The Switch 2 handles it beautifully, making it an ideal portable experience for a dark room and a pair of headphones. If you somehow missed this one over the past decade, there's never been a better time to correct that mistake. Just don't expect to feel great about yourself afterward.