goood.games

Reception

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...