Cryptmaster

“Cryptmaster is a clever blend of dungeon crawling and word puzzles, and might just be the hidden gem you're looking for.”

“Regardless - Cryptmaster was a game I had hoped I would enjoy more. In the end, it's a solid proof of concept with a few hints of what it could be in the future. Cryptmaster is a game with a lot to say, but much like with the game's undead protagonists - it feels like its a bit confused on how to say it.”

“Cryptmaster is just about vibes, specifically, the vibe of cruising around a dungeon typing words while a sardonic, Vincent Price-style narrator complains about what an idiot you are (you are) and you try to fight monsters while instantly forgetting every word you ever knew, all in glorious black and white.”

“Your fingers will get tired from typing words, your brain will burn while trying to solve some riddles, your eyes will water from looking at black and white screens, but be sure that a unique experience awaits you.”

“It's such an innovative RPG design, compared to what we see a lot of in the genre now. A fully grayscale game like this is already intriguing, but I felt entranced by the white glow of the torches, unnerving floating and talking skulls, and the CRYPTMASTER themselves... I also found the rats strangely off-putting. I don't know if it was all the time I spent wandering around in Chapters 1 and 2, but... Gods, it's the eyes. So many beings in CRYPTMASTER have those weird, swirling eyes. They're difficult to look at.”

“Games like Cryptmaster are rare. Not just because of a particular aesthetic or unique mechanic, but because they take a core idea and focus it. Cryptmaster is ok with not being for every gamer, but puzzle-RPG fans with a love of words, a wicked sense of humor, and a taste for the macabre will enjoy it.”

“Cryptmaster is a wickedly clever spin on the edutainment games of old. It combines good old fashioned typing with an underworld full up of gallows humour and eccentrics to meet, including its titular star. Spread the word, Cryptmaster is a must play indie.”

“Cryptmaster’s central idea is innovative and opens up plenty of interesting interaction opportunities. It is fun to type in verbs to guess what’s inside a chest to then trigger a memory or to constantly consider what word will give a character another combat ability. Side activities, like the word-powered card game, aren’t as engaging as the core loop.”

“Cryptmaster is the ultimate evolution of simple word games like Hangman into a fantasy dungeon crawler and manages to delight in its simplicity.”

“Above all, Cryptmaster suffers from you having too many words to learn and there being far too few chapters in which to do so. Even if players are Wheel of Fortune savants, unlocking every word for each character requires hours of retyping the same combat commands. Even an actual zombie would beg off after piecing together words like PARADIDDLE and AMBERGRIS for such meager rewards as another scrap of backstory. This is especially so in the last level, a straightforward corridor that strips away the illusion of exploration provided by the more elaborate mazes and NPC quests that preceded them. By then, you’ll have long come to the realization that this game designed around words should have chosen them more carefully.”

“In short, Cryptmaster presents a blend of dungeon-crawling adventure and linguistic puzzle-solving, inviting players to wield the power of words in a world shrouded in mystery and danger. While its narrative and gameplay mechanics may falter at times, its innovative approach to word-based gameplay ensures a captivating experience for players willing to embrace the role of a keyboard warrior or those willing to pull out a dictionary.”

“A love of language and unique gameplay is enough to get literati excited for Cryptmaster, while those favoring less cerebral experiences should look elsewhere.”