Inklings is a clever puzzle game built around guiding small, vulnerable creatures through environments filled with obstacles and hazards. Developed and published by Applepine Games, it takes clear inspiration from classic creature-management puzzle games while introducing enough unusual mechanics to develop its own personality. Instead of directly controlling a traditional protagonist, the player acts more like an overseer, studying each level and manipulating characters, objects, and terrain to create a safe route toward the goal. Its straightforward premise gradually develops into a surprisingly involved exercise in planning, experimentation, and timing.
The Inklings generally depend on the player to overcome the dangers placed in their path. Every stage becomes a problem that must be understood before it can be solved efficiently. Watching how the creatures move, identifying environmental hazards, and predicting the consequences of an action are essential parts of the experience. Mistakes are common, but they rarely feel completely wasted because an unsuccessful attempt usually reveals something about the puzzle. This creates a satisfying process of observation, experimentation, failure, adjustment, and eventual success.
What gives the game greater depth is its broad collection of abilities and environmental tools. Digging and wall climbing provide relatively traditional ways of changing a route, while gravity manipulation and portals allow for much more imaginative solutions. Reversing gravity can transform the meaning of an entire section of a stage, and portal mechanics can connect areas that initially appear impossible to reach. The challenge becomes increasingly interesting when several of these systems need to be combined in a particular sequence. Knowing what each ability does is only the beginning; understanding when and where to use it becomes the real puzzle.
The player can also interact with parts of the environment instead of relying entirely on the Inklings themselves. Movable terrain, shapes, cannons, and drawable canvas elements can be incorporated into solutions, giving stages a more flexible quality than conventional fixed-layout puzzles. A route that appears completely blocked may become manageable once the environment is treated as something that can be redesigned. This freedom gives the game an almost construction-like quality at times, with the player assembling a functional route from a collection of tools rather than simply discovering a predetermined path.
Its artistic presentation is another memorable feature. Stages draw inspiration from a variety of artwork, including simple children's drawings, paintings, and recognizable artistic styles. References to works associated with artists such as Monet and Kandinsky give some environments an unexpectedly creative visual identity. The hand-drawn and painted appearance fits the playful puzzle mechanics particularly well. Even when the basic objective remains unchanged, the shifting visual themes help individual stages feel distinctive and prevent the campaign from becoming visually monotonous.
Replay value comes partly from the possibility of discovering alternative and bonus solutions. Reaching the exit is satisfying, but players interested in optimization can return to stages and search for more efficient approaches. This works especially well with a game containing so many interacting mechanics because there can be considerable satisfaction in replacing an awkward first solution with something cleaner and more elegant. Players who enjoy mastering puzzle systems are therefore likely to spend more time with the game than those interested only in completing each stage once.
The difficulty can become demanding as additional mechanics are introduced. Later puzzles require careful attention to timing, positioning, and the interaction between multiple abilities. Players expecting continuous action may find the deliberate pacing slow because much of the experience involves studying a situation before committing to a solution. However, that slower rhythm is also one of the game's strengths. Success usually feels earned because it comes from understanding how the level functions rather than simply reacting quickly.
Steam Deck compatibility is officially categorized as Playable rather than fully Verified. Performance with the default graphics configuration is considered suitable, and the game can run successfully on SteamOS. However, handheld players should expect compromises. Some functionality is not fully accessible through the default controller configuration, touchscreen interaction or a community controller layout may occasionally be useful, and text entry can require manually opening the virtual keyboard. Some interface text may also appear small, while certain prompts can display keyboard, mouse, or non-Steam Deck controller icons. It is therefore functional on the Deck, but the experience is less seamless than a fully optimized handheld release.
Overall, Inklings is an imaginative reinterpretation of a familiar puzzle concept. Its combination of creature management, portals, gravity manipulation, digging, climbing, movable objects, editable environments, and artistic level themes creates more variety than its simple premise initially suggests. It is particularly appealing to players who enjoy methodical puzzles where experimentation is just as important as discovering the final answer. Although its pace and old-school structure will not suit everyone, the flexibility of its mechanics gives puzzle enthusiasts plenty of opportunities to think creatively.
Rating: 7/10
