The Inner World/The Inner World: the Last Wind Monk Review for Nintendo Switch

While adventuring through the unique world of Asposia, I found myself both impressed and disturbed by The Inner World and The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk, beautifully crafted by Headup Games and Studio Fizbin for Nintendo Switch. It should be noted when playing The Inner World and The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk, a player should really know what they are getting themselves into. Like a fable in literature, these little animal characters deliver powerful moral lessons that translate into the human world. As the player speaks to other characters and ventures through this land it becomes evident the issues in Asposia are disturbingly parallel to the controversial struggles we see in our world today such as issues in politics, gender, and much more. By experimenting with matured themes, these games push limits and prove the Nintendo Switch isn’t just for little kids.

Even for someone who enjoys dark humor, these games push many boundaries. Explicit hints towards fascist themes and undertones of racism made The Inner World and The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk slightly uncomfortable but inevitably pushed the story forward. I found these controversial themes to be disturbingly realistic and were successfully executed in a way that causes a player to question their own political reality. I find the attempt to make these issues transcend further than the game an overwhelming success.

While the tasks were enjoyable, they were quite difficult and sometimes tedious. Some required players to complete what seemed like extra steps, which was unenjoyable. I believe adventure games should be difficult, however, they should not be tiresome for the player. For me, both The Inner World and The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk almost missed the mark by overcomplicating their objectives and adding too many steps. Luckily, an in-game guide was included to assist players through the more difficult parts of the games and this saved them from being too complicated.

The controls are easy to grasp and straight-forward. Both games met my expectations and provided multiple options in some cases for selection which was convenient. While Switching, I found both games play best on handheld or TV mode mainly because of text-size compatibility therefore I suggest they not be played in the tabletop mode or you will not be able to fully enjoy these games.

If I were to change one thing about these games, it would be the text sizes. The inconsistency within both games created an awkward ratio on the screen. Other than that minor problem I would say The Inner World series is brilliant and the overall concept really made me think beyond the games and into the bigger picture. I appreciate a game that takes time to craft a storyline as thoroughly as it does the other components of the game. The Inner World series amazed me with their story line and met my expectations but leaves me warning players and parents: abide the T rating!

Rating: 8.8/10

Here is The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk Nintendo Switch Release Trailer:

The Inner World is available on the Nintendo eShop for $11.99 / €11.99 / £9.99, while The Inner World – The Last Wind Monk is available for $14.99 / €14.99 / £11.99.