Act 1 vs Act 2 in Inscryption

Inscryption is a unique take on the deck-builder and horror game genres, combining the two and creating a story that is both engaging and interesting. The game is split into three acts and if you wish to avoid spoilers, you should finish Act 1 before reading on.

At the end of Act 1, the player defeats Leshy and escapes the cabin, seemingly beating Inscryption. However, this is not the end but rather the beginning of Act 2. Act 2, while still Inscryption, plays vastly different and features a completely different art style. You can see the main differences in Act 1 and Act 2 of Inscryption below.

Related: Which deck should I choose in Act 2 of Inscryption

Style

This is the most obvious change in Act 1 and Act 2. Act 1 is 3D and heavily horror-focused with a dark atmosphere. It also has far less sound than Act 2 giving a much more ominous feel. Act 2 transitions into a 2D game and is significantly more colorful. There is a greater range of music that makes the world feel more alive. This is by far the most radical change between Act 1 and Act 2 in Inscryption and can give players a shock.

Gameplay

Another major change is the style of gameplay. While both Act 1 and Act 2 are deck-building games, they are very much different. Act 1 features a roguelike system where players collect cards and try to reach the end, similar to other roguelike card games such as Slay the Spire.

Act 2 acts more like a TCG similar to Pokémon. The roguelike aspects are gone and the player collects cards from packs and even can alter the deck unlike Act 1. In Act 2, players have more mechanics including both blood and bones from Act 1. New mechanics are energy that technology cards use and gems which magic cards use. The core gameplay remains the same in which the player must deal five damage and lower their opponent's scale.

World

Act 1 features a very limited world as the player is trapped in Leshy's cabin. Practically all of the NPCs the player interacts with are Leshy wearing a mask or other NPCs turned into cards. Act 2, however, is a world comprised of four different regions and each one has different NPCs—including Leshy, the masks he wears, and the companions who were formerly cards in Act 1. Both Acts still contain numerous secrets the player can only find by exploring and trying obtuse solutions.

For more information on Inscryption, check out What are Boons – How to get them in Inscryption and How to beat Leshy in Inscryption on Pro Game Guides.