REVIEW / Cryptical Path for PC

There’s an interesting phenomenon with gaming—spend enough time in the world of video games, and you start developing a keen sense for them. It’s something of an instinct; after just ten minutes, I can usually tell if a game is going to be my cup of tea. This isn’t about sticking to my usual genres either; I’ve discovered unexpected gems outside my comfort zone through this gut feeling. From my experience, if the first hour doesn’t grab you, it’s unlikely the fifth will change things. That brings me to Cryptical Path on PC. By the end of its tutorial, I was smitten. Let me break it down as to why this might just top my list for games this year, and considering it’s just January, that’s a huge declaration.

In Cryptical Path, you become The Architect, summoned to the peculiar construct known as the Hexium—a prison completely under your control that’s spiraled into chaos. A doppelganger now haunts the place, parading as its master and not too pleased about your arrival. Escaped prisoners, twisted by the doppelganger’s influence, add to the mess you must now clean up. Stopping these altered entities from flipping the Hexium further into madness demands harnessing all of your unique powers. Unfortunately, facing off against another being possessing abilities too familiar isn’t much help.

Though Cryptical Path slots into the roguelite genre, it brings refreshing innovations. Instead of following a pre-made path, you’re tasked with crafting the journey as you play. As the brains behind the Hexium’s architecture, you dictate everything within—rooms and creatures alike. However, thanks to the bothersome doppelganger, you’re not entirely in charge. This uncertainty about what’s lurking in each room you design? A disconcerting twist in your own space.

Building in Cryptical Path involves more than creative construction; it’s a costly affair in-game. Your expansive powers face limits reflected by control points, with each room demanding its share. Slip past your available points, and curses come knocking. These woes start small but grow rapidly if untreated, so a careful strategy is crucial in your build-and-conquer adventure.

At its core, Cryptical Path feels like another roguelite platformer, but allows itself to shine through creative mechanics and a standout design. The game is infused with such passion and attention to detail that it’s hard not to fall for its charms immediately.

Immersing in Cryptical Path is akin to re-living a 90s animated series, capturing a vibe reminiscent of a hit from Adult Swim. It strikes the elusive balance of maturity and edge that hooks older audiences while captivating the teen crowd. Frankly, if this was a new show, I’d binge it from episode one. It has engaging writing, intriguing characters, and—most importantly—it’s a blast to play.

A note of advice about Cryptical Path: play it with a controller. While keyboard and mouse can suffice, a controller significantly smoothens gameplay, enhancing precision. This detail doesn’t cost the game points, but it’s worth emphasizing for an optimal experience.

It’s rare to compose a review without a long list of critiques, but here I am, struggling to find faults in Cryptical Path. If you’re a platformer or roguelite fan, make downloading this game a priority. You may not encounter groundbreaking mechanics, but it showcases developers mastering their craft beautifully.

In conclusion, Cryptical Path is a blast and really deserves a console release soon. It’s something that’ll find a fantastic home on PS4, Xbox, and Switch platforms. The Architect is a memorable character that I hope marks the start of a beloved franchise. Truly stellar work across the board!