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Inkulinati
Game
Game2024
Cryptmaster
Developer Paul Hart, Lee Williams, Akupara Games
Cryptmaster is a 2024 role-playing word game developed by Paul Hart and Lee Williams, and published by Akupara Games. It was released on Steam, GOG, and Itch.io on May 9, 2024 for Windows. The game is played by typing words on a keyboard. It has received positive reviews for its gameplay and visual design. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
401 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
80
LovedLoved
182 positive · 46 negative
95% range 74–85%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 182 | 46 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 69 | 3 | 73 |
| Mastodon * | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| Lemmy * | 7 | 0 | 5 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
1,937 of 2,089 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
80% recommend · 175 yes, 44 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 219 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (2,140 of 2,305 positive).
Players praise Cryptmaster for its unique word-based mechanics and clever puzzles. [1][2][3] Some reviewers find the game's pacing and navigation frustrating. [4][5][6] The voice acting and humor are widely celebrated as standout features. [7][8][5]
Liked
Representative posts
- [5]
I got a little over halfway through Cryptmaster before I realized I wasn’t playing for fun anymore, just to hear more of the voice acting and solve a few more puzzles. The writing and performances are fantastic, the Cryptmaster’s delivery alone kept me smiling. The word puzzles are clever, funny, and genuinely original. But everything in between them started to drag. Walking through the world felt like filler …
- [16]
This game by far exceeded my expectations - I cannot recommend this game enough!!! Background Context to understand my review: I am extremely bad at 'battle' type games. Not only am I bad at fighting games, but they give me anxiety as I always feel rushed/panicked. I also have ADHD, so if I'm bored even for a bit, I tend to stop playing. I like puzzles and casual games (think Nancy Drew, Animal Crossing, etc.). I've …
- [2]
This game is good. Like, unfairly good. The mechanics, worldbuilding, and puzzles all tie together beautifully and seamlessly. The writing is excellent. It's like if you crossed Planescape: Torment with Blue Prince. The aesthetics are flawless. The only weak point is that there's no area map and the minimap rotates with you, so it can be hard to keep track of where you haven't been yet, which is a shame because you …
- [4]
This is a good game edging towards a great game, let down by a few small problems and one large one. It's a dungeon crawler that feels like you are playing Wordle - and that's the part that's great. It's full of riddles and other word problems, and they are often good, but the difficulty and level of forgiveness in them varries wildly. The riddles you get as many attempts as you like, and it will give you the answer …
- [1]
My Playtime: 21.2h (100% achievement, finished the game) Grindy Achievement(s): No. Optional Achievement(s): Yes (21 achievements). Difficult Achievement(s): No. Intro Cryptmaster is a game with riddles. It allows freedom in which you can type any letter you want throughout the game to do anything, whether it's just talking to NPCs or fighting enemies. Pros: - Type anything you want in the game - Many riddles to be …
Summarised from 34 of the 354 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Cryptmaster talk about unique word-based gameplay and puzzles; those who didn't talk about easy to get lost without a map. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Cryptmaster received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator website Metacritic, scoring a 77/100 on the site. Many critics praised its unique mechanics, humor, and art style. It has won the "Excellence in Design" award at the Independent Games Festival, and the "Jury Prix Award" at IndieCade. The game's art style received particular praise. Alex McHugh of PCGamesN enjoyed the game art style and graphics, touting the monochrome graphics and weird enemies, saying players battle "with bizarre monsters, giant wobbling eyes peering at you out of doors, and much more to greet you on your journey." Others noted the game's humor and jokes. Ars Technica's Kevin Purdy praised…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 401 · most liked firstIf you've enjoyed Cryptmaster, please consider sharing the news. Despite an IGF award, a 95% Steam rating and a free demo, the game has gone mostly unnoticed by both press and players. It's not just a typing game and there may still be people out there who would enjoy it!
positive · AI labelView post →PLEASE PLAY CRYPTMASTER (not just saying this because I was the VO director on it but because it is such a genuinely delightful game)
positive · AI labelView post →I just found out Cryptmaster won Best Audio at the New Zealand Game Awards!! I didn't do the music or sound (shoutout to @surasshu.com and @cattonarthur.net for that!) but I did direct all the voice acting + a lot of the vocal effects! So uh... hire me to direct your video games! I WIN AWARDS! 😁😁😁
neutral · AI labelView post →I also do VO direction and consultation if you're interested in adding VO to your game (it's a lot easier/cheaper than you think) and/or need someone to manage all that stuff. That one I do have a few more games under my belt for, including but not limited to the critically acclaimed Cryptmaster
neutral · AI labelView post →Okay, anyone who worked on a game as utterly genius as Cryptmaster should not be financially struggling, hire Lee!
neutral · AI labelView post →Mavis Beacon eat your heart out My cryptmaster fanart from last year because GOD that game rules #cryptmaster #art
positive · AI labelView post →11. Cryptmaster Oh, Cryptmaster! The game that ended up walking away with my coveted Game of the Year award for 2024, it's mechanically clever, wonderfully voiced, and consistently witty throughout, there's even collectable card and fishing minigames, and just a delight from start to finish.
positive · AI labelView post →11. Cryptmaster Utterly brilliant dungeon crawler meets typing tutor, it was my Game of the Year 24, just came out with a big content update, and is just consistently amusing throughout. There's nothing quite like its Mavis Beacon Teaches Necromancy gameplay store.steampowered.com/app/1885110/...
positive · AI labelView post →Pondering your orb is OUT, conniving your icosahedron is IN. Been obsessing hard over the game lately #cryptmaster #fanart
positive · AI labelView post →19. Cryptmaster My game of the year for 2024, it's just utterly brilliant, a genius game. Part dungeon crawler, part cursed typing tutor, like Mavis Beacon teaches necromancer. Play it and the Cryptmaster is gonna delight you with every wry, sardonic fully voiced line.
positive · AI labelView post →By the way, if you don't get the reference, I'd implore you to check out the game Cryptmaster, it's incredible, was my GOTY for 2024.
positive · AI labelView post →Hey folks, the 300th recommendation I've added to my Steam curator page is... CRYPTMASTER! The game I jokingly referred to as "Mavis Beacon Teaches Necromancy" is hands down one of the best of the year by far, a truly fantastic and novel experience.👍 store.steampowered.com/app/1885110/...
positive · AI labelView post →How did I miss this announcement!? :o New game from the Cryptmaster developers!
neutral · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster just put out a huge update, and I would highly recommend it, it won my Game of the Year, beating some serious competition. If you've not played it, there is a demo to check out! store.steampowered.com/app/1885110/...
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster is such a compelling little dungeon crawly typing game. the art says grimdark but the writing says silly as hell gotta be royalty to get out of the bonehouses so i married an immortal, corpulent frog king and got a marriage certificate
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster Review by Mandaloregaming.
neutral · AI labelView post →The Cryptmaster himself is here, humble as ever. Congratulations to @farmergnome.bsky.social , @wiwyums.bsky.social , and @akuparagames.bsky.social on taking home The Indie Game Award for Innovation for Cryptmaster! Category Breakout: youtu.be/JQL2KxykD10
neutral · AI labelView post →Again, I am over here shoutin that Cryptmaster is so cool and funny and it lets you call the skeleton DADDY and where else can you get that in a game? No, really, I'm asking where else, if anyone knows
positive · AI labelView post →And I have boundless energy for talking about games I love, like Cryptmaster! Oh my god that game is so good, I had so much fun with it, but it's a game that's slipped well under people's radars, so given a chance I'll sing its praises. Hell, give the OST a listen! www.youtube.com/watch?v=z66G...
positive · AI labelView post →[MandaloreGaming] Cryptmaster Review.
neutral · AI labelView post →I got a little over halfway through Cryptmaster before I realized I wasn’t playing for fun anymore, just to hear more of the voice acting and solve a few more puzzles. The writing and performances are fantastic, the Cryptmaster’s delivery alone kept me smiling. The word puzzles are clever, funny, and genuinely original. But everything in between them started to drag. Walking through the world felt like filler between the good parts. Eventually I turned on all the hints just to push forward…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Anniversary Update for 💀Cryptmaster releases this Thurs, May 29th! Get ready for whatever...I mean, 🃏Whatever, the in-game card game, WHENever you want, and more 😌 youtu.be/13ATD5_mrvY @thecryptmaster.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →"What could it be that starts with an E and ends with an E, but only has one letter in it?" _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (8 letters) - Cryptmaster, 2024 #cryptmaster / #pixelart / #indiegame / #typinggame
neutral · AI labelView post →I've watched TWO of my friends stream this game, and it still delights me every time. Play Cryptmaster if you want an extremely funny, VERY well voice-acted Wordle dungeon crawler!
positive · AI labelView post →My little fanarts of #Cryptmaster, by the end of the game I had a little crush on him, not gonna lie...
positive · AI labelView post →CRYPTMASTER FUCKS THIS GAME IS SO FUN
positive · AI labelView post →Btw :3 im back home, so streams are back on Cryptmaster tuesday, Funi Raccoon Game thursday, friday Magicka with Ky and Val, and saturday, we Ace Attorney
neutral · AI labelView post →25. CRYPTMASTER! If you've not heard of it, I'd implore everyone to at least try the demo. There's a reason this was my game of the year for 2024, Cryptmaster is wildly inventive, wickedly funny, and there is nothing else quite like it out there. It's genius! store.steampowered.com/app/1885110/...
positive · AI labelView post →Okay, more game! Started playing Cryptmaster tonight, not only is it amazing, there's a whole card game in there I wasn't aware of, and it's real good! store.steampowered.com/app/1885110/...
positive · AI labelView post →2⃣ TWO titles in the Akupara family are FINALISTS in the Thinky Awards! 🤩 Most Innovative Game finalist - 💀Cryptmaster @thecryptmaster.bsky.social Most Anticipated Game finalist - ⌛️Echo Weaver by @moonlightkids.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →Still streaming CRYPTMASTER and testing how many words he knows, what a game
positive · AI labelView post →14) Cryptmaster Hi, yes, I was in charge of the VO for this game BUT it's also an incredibly well made game with gameplay that's kind of genuinely unique to video games! Type literally anything. Annoy the Cryptmaster. You're zombies. store.steampowered.com/app/1885110/...
positive · AI labelView post →100% achievements on Cryptmaster! This game is incredible. I absolutely loved it and cannot recommend it enough!
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster has nice-nice rat persons in it! Good-good game! But: don't take-take from Qrik! Ask-ask @thecryptmaster.bsky.social!
positive · AI labelView post →I've had a great time with Cryptmaster! It's a brilliantly inventive game, please take a look: store.steampowered.com/app/1885110/...
positive · AI labelView post →Greb's live in 15 mins torturing the Cryptmaster in the game of the same name over at - www.twitch.tv/iggymaid I wonder how long he'll be able to put up with its shenanigans... Shares & lurks always welcomed ♥ #vtuber #indie #twitch #Cryptmaster
neutral · AI labelView post →Thrilled to announce that Cryptmaster won the Indie Game Award for Innovation! The Cryptmaster himself showed up and called me either Laurel or Hardy, not sure which one...
neutral · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster is a DAMN GOOD GAME, friends. Casey is right, go grab this one.
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster won Excellence in Audio at the NZ Games Awards!!!! Super proud to be a part of this game doing sound design and sick bass solos.
neutral · AI labelView post →This week's @aftermath.site newsletter features a writeup of a Steam demo I played, Tomb of the Bloodletter, which is sort of like Cryptmaster but with a lot more focus on spelling and the keyboard. It's really neat!
neutral · AI labelView post →I recommend Cryptmaster as often as I can but I am just one minion. Please spread the word and get this wonderful game the visibility it deserves. 🖤
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster is so much fun, it's a really endearing game with so much style! Plus having chat around to help out and contribute to word puzzles is nice too~
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster is the only game I've played in recent memory that lets me help an NPC write a dis track
positive · AI labelView post →Sena did this work on Cryptmaster and that game is renown for it's incredible voicework. I can 100% recommend Sena from years of working with her on multiple projects.
neutral · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster is an exceedingly cute game.
positive · AI labelView post →I was so honored to be the publishing producer on Cryptmaster. Paul and Lee are such gifted, passionate creators, and I loved working with them to bring the game to life. This is a great read. Please do check it out!
neutral · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster is a cool game because I just helped this weird old dude who rules over a bunch of rats to compose a diss track to some old lady he knows
positive · AI labelView post →My Playtime: 21.2h (100% achievement, finished the game) Grindy Achievement(s): No. Optional Achievement(s): Yes (21 achievements). Difficult Achievement(s): No. Intro Cryptmaster is a game with riddles. It allows freedom in which you can type any letter you want throughout the game to do anything, whether it's just talking to NPCs or fighting enemies. Pros: - Type anything you want in the game - Many riddles to be found and solved - Accessibility options Cons: - It's easy to get lost - Some…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →✨🍎Weekly Schedule🍎✨ MON: Cryptmaster! WED: Even more Cryptmaster! (Game is fun, what can I say?) FRI: Code Vein 2 release SUN: Minecraft for the VSMP2: Farm Life grand opening! (All assuming the flu doesn't catch up to me.) See you there~ 🍎✨
positive · AI labelView post →🏆 Congrats to Cryptmaster for winning Most Innovative Game! Cryptmaster is available on Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Thinky Games Database: thinkygames.com/games/cryptm...
neutral · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster: fun-fun and good-good game!
positive · AI labelView post →Heya folks, here's a 1st short featuring an indie dungeon crawler called Cryptmaster. I featured this game in an old Steam Next Fest article years ago, and I finally picked up the full game recently. I still find the game quite impressive too. #cryptmaster #videogames #indiegames #rpg #shorts
positive · AI labelView post →Depends what you’re looking for. Adventure/RPGs: Oblivion remaster and Avowed both came out with pretty good ratings overall. Ghost of Tsushima was also a big hit last year, came out in May 2024. Multiplayer indies had a good year as well - Repo, Peak, and Escape from Duckov have been popular. Cozy/niche games: Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Deltarune, Slime Rancher 2. Niche games I’ve personally enjoyed and/or want to get: Mudborne, Cryptmaster, Dungeons of Hinterberg, LAN Party…
neutral · AI labelView post →This game by far exceeded my expectations - I cannot recommend this game enough!!! Background Context to understand my review: I am extremely bad at 'battle' type games. Not only am I bad at fighting games, but they give me anxiety as I always feel rushed/panicked. I also have ADHD, so if I'm bored even for a bit, I tend to stop playing. I like puzzles and casual games (think Nancy Drew, Animal Crossing, etc.). I've never played any game like this and I am OBSESSED. It's so unique and I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →every year I end up with a game which becomes my mission to get people to play. this year it’s Cryptmaster which I somehow missed until I found out about the Knightmare connection and then it became a buy now, play immediately game. it’s delightful and diabolical @thecryptmaster.bsky.social
positive · AI labelView post →🔴 LIVE NOW LET'S PLAY CRYPTMASTER SOME CALL IT ADVANCED WORDLE DUNGEON CRAWLING TYPING PUZZLE GAME APPEALS TO ME, LET'S GO twitch.tv/reiyuguigui
neutral · AI labelView post →Check out Cryptmaster if you haven´t done so already - it is a wonderful game made by wonderful people!
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster is very funny and a really incredible game, I highly recommend it to anyone!
positive · AI labelView post →Cryptmaster Review [Mandalore Gaming]. [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8OtA5_Y6W4)
neutral · AI labelView post →2024 IGF Awards. -Excellence in Visual Art ($2,000) - Phonopolis (Amanita Design) -Excellence in Audio ($2,000) - Rhythm Doctor (7th Beat Games) -Excellence in Design ($2,000) - Cryptmaster (Paul Hart & Lee Williams) -Excellence in Narrative ($2,000) - Mediterranea Inferno (EYEGUYS) -Nuovo Award ($2,000) - Anthology of the Killer (Thecatamites, Tommy Tone, A. Degen) -Best Student Game ($2,000) - Once Upon a Jester (Bonte Avond) -Audience Award ($2,000) - RAM: Random Access Mayhem (Xylem…
neutral · AI labelView post →
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