Crypterion

Plus + Szata Graficzna + Ciekawa koncepcja dla gatunku Visual Novel. + Za to że twórca słucha uwag co poprawić Neutralne = Fabuła = Postacie Minus - Uboga rozgrywka - niedociągnięcia z powodu wczesnego dostępu Ocena 6/10

I reserve judgement after playing more, but so far its been a light sci-fi visual novel with various economic mini-games and random events... I'm not sure how much is actually random without replaying; but there are a fair amount of choices which should increase its replay value. And with the 20% launch discount I'd say its a good deal. I'll have to see how long it really is, and how it turns out but seems fun so far. If you've played Roencia's previous game Omni Link, then just get it already :D If not, and you like visual novels or sci-fi stories that aren't too dark or heavy (so far) and enjoy simple economic games (get out of debt! make good decisions... or just roll the dice and hope for the best xD) meet interesting new allies and become a legend? (or crash and burn!) ... If that sounds interesting, then by all means, give this indie a chance~ EDIT: After reaching... mostly the end ? of one playthrough. I'll give it a Pretty Good. Love the characters and lore most of all. It is a very random adventure visual novel, more like a little anime than a novel. Events definitely taper off near the end unfortunately, going from a struggle at the start to basically easy street half way. It does have an early access feel to it imo... But that's not to say I did not enjoy the time I spent. Ultimately I'll still recommend it, especially if you've already played Omni Link (that might be a superior game(?) It's been a while, I need to play it again xD Though one was pleasant.) I'd say fine for all ages (leaning towards the younger side).

Mixed, but it has some high quality content and pushes the boundaries on visual novel design so positive review. There are a few major problems, most notably the decision to only allow ironman play. There is no save/load. There are no checkpoints. You will have to replay the WHOLE THING if you want to see a different path. Many of the events are atrociously random and have poorly telegraphed solutions, meaning that you must brute force through, further exacerbating the pain of being unable to save. I feel like this is a very ADHD game. It has a lot of one-off interesting concepts that seem like they should be part of a much larger concept and project, but instead are just half-finished novelties dragging down an otherwise fairly compelling game and narrative. To extend on this, having now finished the game since my first review, the ADHD feeling is a symptom of the ambition of the project. Art styles randomly jitter, and one-off mechanics or situations crop up because the dev is deliberately stepping outside the typical technical limitations of his chosen medium. That is laudable, and were it to be carried on into a larger, better funded project, I feel like it would find its place and feel less disorienting. The trend of my feelings towards the game was distinctly positive, so in the end my mixed review should serve more as a 'this has some scuffs, but a good core' rather than 'it is ok but fails to reach its potential' as I had originally intended it.

Great game if you enjoy both visual novels and trading games. You'll basically hop from planet to planet buying and selling things. It's somewhat simplistic nature isn't bad and I wish there was more content as basically once you finish the visual novel part there isn't that much to do. I did enjoy the story and the characters, just wish there was a little more done with the trading. It is very similar in nature to an older game, Gazillionaire, but it adds the visual novel elements and I do prefer this setting more.

This game is criminally under-recognized, especially considering its cup of coffee price tag. The best visual novels are those with a gameplay loop that ties into the story, and actions in one realm effect the other. This game has a good amount of that. You start out deep in debt and scraping by, and this flavors the story, which is fairly engaging with likeable characters. It's a male-centered harem story where most of the characters automatically like the protagonist, but that's par for the course with this genre. Cons: Typos and punctuation errors, quite a few actually. I'm pretty sure the auction system is bugged. When bidding for the crystal mine, you'll be out-bid in the last minute without the chance to counter-bid. Also you only get one file, and it automatically overwrites whenever you travel to a different planet or an auction ends. This is no good. Easy reloading isn't just used to save-scum dialogue choices; it's also a failsafe for when mechanics or ambiguously worded choices have implications the player couldn't have anticipated but was meant to. These nitpicks are coming from a position of overall being pleasantly surprised by this game and enjoying it quite a lot. The character art is really good, it blends visual novel and merchant sim really well and a lot of the characters feel like real people who actually exist. Whoever wrote it definitely has the knack and cared about what they were doing. I'm going to buy this game for several friends since I know they'll like it and I want to support it more.

Soul.

Crypterion, developed by Roencia and published by indie.io, is an unusual hybrid that stretches the definition of a visual novel into something far more systemic and open-ended. Instead of guiding players through a carefully structured narrative, it presents a sprawling sci-fi setting where choice, consequence, and self-directed progression take center stage. The game drops you into a distant frontier society with little more than opportunity and uncertainty, leaving it up to you to decide how to navigate a world filled with economic systems, social connections, and branching storylines. The most striking aspect of the experience is its emphasis on freedom. Rather than following a single narrative arc, the game offers a wide network of possible paths shaped by player decisions, many of which can lead to entirely different outcomes. You can pursue financial success through trading and investment, build relationships with key characters, or stumble into unexpected situations that reshape your trajectory entirely. This structure gives the game a strong sense of agency, as progress is not defined by completing predefined objectives but by adapting to the opportunities and setbacks that emerge along the way. Gameplay is built around a blend of narrative interaction and light simulation mechanics. Players take on jobs, manage resources, and engage with a simple but functional economic system that influences how the story unfolds. While these systems are not deeply complex, they serve an important role in grounding the experience, giving weight to decisions and adding a layer of consequence to player actions. Financial success can open new narrative paths, while failure can lead to alternative scenarios that are just as meaningful. This integration of mechanics and storytelling helps create a dynamic experience where outcomes feel earned rather than predetermined. Character interaction plays a central role in shaping the journey. The game features a wide cast of individuals, each with their own personalities, goals, and potential connections to the player. Building relationships—whether through friendship, alliance, or romance—adds depth to the experience and often unlocks new storylines or opportunities. These interactions are where the writing tends to shine, offering moments of humor, tension, and emotional engagement that help anchor the broader, more open-ended structure. Even when the overarching narrative feels diffuse, the individual character arcs provide a sense of continuity and investment. Visually, the game follows a stylized visual novel approach, with detailed character art and a variety of backgrounds that bring its futuristic setting to life. While animation is limited, the artwork is expressive enough to support the dialogue-heavy format, and the character designs contribute significantly to the game’s appeal. The presentation is consistent and effective, even if it doesn’t push technical boundaries, focusing instead on clarity and atmosphere. However, the same openness that defines Crypterion can also lead to uneven pacing and structure. Because the game allows players to move freely between activities and storylines, the narrative can sometimes feel fragmented or lacking in cohesion. Certain paths may feel underdeveloped, and transitions between events can occasionally seem abrupt. The economic systems, while functional, are relatively shallow and may not fully satisfy players looking for a more robust simulation experience. These issues highlight the challenges of balancing ambition with execution in such a wide-ranging design. Replayability is one of the game’s strongest qualities. With so many branching paths and possible outcomes, no single playthrough can capture everything the game has to offer. Players are encouraged to experiment with different choices, explore alternative routes, and discover new interactions, making each run feel distinct. This design ensures that the game remains engaging over multiple sessions, particularly for those who enjoy uncovering hidden content and experimenting with different strategies. In the end, Crypterion stands as a bold and experimental take on the visual novel genre, prioritizing player agency and systemic design over tightly controlled storytelling. It may not always achieve perfect balance, and its rough edges are noticeable, but its willingness to embrace complexity and freedom results in a uniquely engaging experience. For players who value choice-driven narratives and sandbox-style progression, it offers a rich and unpredictable journey, even if it occasionally sacrifices cohesion in the process. Rating: 8/10

Cute feelgood story with hilarious characters and decent gameplay. UI a bit rough around the edges.

If you enjoyed Gazillionaire you'll enjoy this. Heavy on the dialog but it adds its own charm. If your looking for something to scratch that space trading itch this game will do it.

I dig Roencia's artwork and storytelling; if you follow my reviews (which I know you don't, but maybe you should?), I gave Omni Link a solid "art and story is great, except the ending - let's not go there - the shooting stuff is silly so Crypterion is better, can't wait for updates" which translates to a 3.5/5, I guess (for Omni Link, to be clear). So far, Crypterion sits at a 4.5/5; there's no silly shooting sequences (yet! Please don't!) and the story is legitimately entertaining. I am excited each time one of my favourite characters gets involved and I see their development. Lookin' at you, Moxie ;) Without getting into any spoilers (because, hey, this is a Visual Novel!), Crypterion is a 'merchant life' game where you travel between planets, buying and selling goods for profit. While you do this, events occur in VN style which progress the story. That's it, that's the game! Sorry if that sounds simple, but, it really is, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, because Crypterion does it well! Since Crypterion is in Early Access, it's hard to really say "hey this game is the best!" though, because, well, it's only at appetizer stage. The main course is yet to come. During my playtime, I had quite a few events during the first 'in game year' or so, but then they just fell off the wayside. The thing is... because it's Early Access, it's really impossible for me to know if there's just no more content, or, if I just haven't triggered the next criteria to have something happen. There's a percentage in game that says "here's the amount of content" but that doesn't really help explain if I finished everything I can see, or if I should look under that rug over there for a cinematic. A little feature-creep here, and I cannot imagine how next-to-impossible this would be, but a checklist of all possible quests, with 'hints' on how to trigger them would be super swell. Something that screams "Hey, buddy, I know you're flying around trading right now and nothing has happened for the last twenty minutes... but you still have these twenty-seven quests upcoming, if you just 'Visit the space station on a rainy day.'" Which makes no sense because it doesn't rain in space, it's just a (bad) example. In any case, I will continue to follow Crypterion's progress. I don't plan to play it again until 1.0 (and maybe a little after, in case bugs, because VN bugs suck), because when I played Omni Link after 1.0 I had to start over and that made me sad (though in retrospect, it did help keep the story fresh in my mind!). This way I can replay the entire game in 1.0 and not be 95% complete the game already; only 50%, haha. Looking forward to what's to come, Roencia!