Cryptmaster (2024)

It's been a while since I played a typing game, and this one was really, really good.

Great writing (pun intended) with unique twist on the typing mechanic. Memorizing and typing words to attack and use skills really tests your typing skills and your ability to both plan and adapt on the go. I enjoyed the combat very much, even though I avoided it when I could.

The story is straightforward, like most classic fantasy games/campaigns, but it's the dialogue and the characters you meet that make it worthwhile. Solving game's puzzles and many riddles also felt great. It's a clever game, is what I'm saying.

Bottom line - I loved it.

when I tell my friends I am loving playing a "typing rpg," they don't understand at first. But it really hits the sweet spot for me of being breezy but still challenging enough to be fun. The character and lore writing is entertaining but not long winded, the riddles are satisfying, and I actually get excited when an NPC wants to play the trading card minigame.

The combat is really unique because instead of remembering a button for each attack, you have to remember and type the actual name of the attack. I have had a lot of fun keeping track of my favorite moves and combos to stack lots of damage. TBH if I was playing alone, I would need to do turn-based combat mode because I'm a poor typist. Luckily my partner helps me, but I'm glad the option is there.

Although you are constrained to saying one word at a time, I have still been surprised and delighted by some responses I get from the npcs. The low fantasy humor reminds me of terry pratchett's discworld a bit, and I especially love my pal the Cryptmaster! My only gripe is that no matter how many times I say "love," "friend," "hug," etc to him, he doesn't seem to return my affection... :'( lol

If it sounds interesting, check out a video of someone playing! If the first 15 mins or so seem interesting, you will probably like the rest of it, we definitely did!