Bastion
LQ: 9.15
Recommended Age: 10+
Skills Used: Planning, Working Memory, Mathematics, Reading
Inscryption is a roguelike game where the player finds themselves competing against a shadowy figure in a deck-building card game. The player receives cards with different animals on them, all with their own attack and defense stats as well as sigils which grant specific abilities. These cards are played on a three by three grid and during each player’s turn, the cards “attack” the other player’s side of the board. When five damage is done to either side of the board, the game ends. The player only has two opportunities to lose these battles before the game ends and they will need to start over with a completely new set of cards. In boss battles, the player only has one attempt to win, making them much more challenging.
In between rounds of the card game, the player can get up from the table and explore the room they are in. They will find interactive items and clues to help them with future card battles as well as hints to perhaps help them escape the room and the madman inside of it.
Inscryption is not rated by the ESRB but LearningWorks for Kids suggests that children under 12 not play this game due to language, horror themes, and limited violent imagery. The game is available now on Steam for PC.
Flexibility: Adapting and adjusting to changing conditions and expectations.
This game is a good way for practicing adaptation when circumstances are constantly changing. The player never keeps the same deck between rounds. They need to build a new deck from their existing cards each time, meaning that no two games will ever look the same. The player also needs to occasionally sacrifice certain cards in order to play others, meaning that they will need to adapt to the cards that are currently being played by the shadowy figure and evaluate what their next move needs to be. Flexibility will also come in handy during the larger “boss battle” card games where the shadowy figure dons a mask and plays as different characters such as a prospector, a fisherman, and a fur trapper. In these battles, the shadowy figure often changes the very rules of the game, meaning that the player needs to be able to go with the flow of the battle in order to win.
Planning: Developing a systematic approach for setting and achieving goals.
In order to have the best chance of winning each round of cards, the player needs to look at what cards they have in their hand, what is currently on the board, and what stats each card has in order to assess what the best possible move will be. It is possible to lose a round of cards in one move, so the player needs to always be planning ahead to see how they can block incoming attacks or play cards in a way that will deal the most damage possible. At certain points in the game, players will also have the opportunity to choose new cards, give cards new abilities, or select items that can help them during rounds of the game. The player needs to look at what they have in their deck and use their planning skills to choose new cards that will complement what they already have in their deck. Players who struggle with planning skills may find that they need to repeat portions of the game several times because they have not adequately prepared for the battle and placed optimal cards on the board.
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