Indika Review

Indika is a surreal horror adventure developed by Odd Meter and published by 11 Bit Studios, the publisher behind unique indie titles such as The Thaumaturge, This War of Mine, and the forthcoming Moonlighter 2.

It follows the tale of the titular character, Indika, as she journeys through a fictional, alternative 19th-century Russia, where a harsh landscape is mixed with dreamlike elements and steampunk technology. Tasked with delivering a letter to the head Abbott in a nearby city, she must overcome the elements, treacherous travelers, and the devil that dwells in her mind.

Will Indika overcome this crucible? Read on and witness Indika’s harrowing journey!

Test of Faith

Indika is a narrative-driven adventure infused with surreal elements that heighten its atmospheric and psychological horror, much of which unfolds within the protagonist’s mind. Unlike the action-oriented sequences found in titles such as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade, Indika’s struggles are largely internal, though cleverly externalized in creative ways.

One such feature is the collection of “faith coins,” earned by completing convent tasks, gathering religious artifacts, or lighting candles at shrines. These coins feed into an unusual leveling system that primarily enhances Indika’s ability to stack points, though its effects remain confined to her psyche rather than manifesting in tangible changes to her environment or character.

The narrative unfolds through cinematic cutscenes, routine traversal across the physical world, and trials imposed by the demon within her mind. Prayer serves as a means to quiet invasive thoughts, while the mechanic extends further, allowing players to access hidden paths by entering the “world of temptation,” at the cost of faith coins.

At its core, the gameplay loop revolves around environmental puzzles that demand observation and experimentation. Successful solutions unlock new areas, though danger occasionally arises in the form of hostile pursuers, whether dogs or other characters. Death is possible, but respawns occur only moments before the fatal encounter, softening the frustration of setbacks.

That said, the absence of an autosave system means progress is tied to completing entire chapters, which can be punishing when glitches render puzzles or areas unsolvable. In such cases, restarting a chapter becomes necessary, though the ability to skip cutscenes helps mitigate repetition.

Another creative way to convey Indika’s flashbacks is through an old-school 8-bit format, where you engage in mini-games to solve, adding to the quirky, surreal way Indika sees her bleak world.

Lust of Life

Indika is a unique and creative way to witness a 19th-century Russian story come to life. It definitely resonates with fans and readers of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, as it captures the unforgiving, bleak, and cold reality these characters live through. It also adds many surrealist elements, lightening the mood and balancing out the dreary world.

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch port undermines much of this potential. Persistent glitches and unoptimized performance frequently disrupt progression, often forcing replay of affected sections. Combined with the absence of an autosave system and unforgiving checkpoints, these technical shortcomings make the journey unnecessarily frustrating.

Visual presentation also suffers. Lighting across environments is uneven, with many areas being excessively dark. While Indika’s lamp provides some light, the issue extends into cutscenes, which at times become nearly unwatchable.

On handheld OLED screens, the darkness is especially pronounced, while docked play introduces distortion and pixelation on larger displays, giving off a dated, PlayStation-era vibe. Given that PC cutscenes do not exhibit these flaws, it is clear this was not an intentional creative choice.

Control responsiveness further detracts from the experience. Joy-Con inputs feel clunky and imprecise, occasionally leading to unintended character deaths and a generally awkward gameplay flow.

While Indika’s artistic vision and narrative creativity remain commendable, the Switch port significantly diminishes the overall experience. With its niche themes already presenting a barrier to mainstream appeal, the technical issues only compound the problem. For those interested in fully appreciating the game’s unique storytelling, we strongly recommend playing on PC or another console platform.

Verdict: Wait For It…

Indika is a distinct surreal horror experience, particularly appealing to players who enjoy experimental, arthouse-style titles. Yet its potential is undermined by the poorly optimized Nintendo Switch port, which prevents the game from fully realizing its narrative and artistic ambitions, regardless of how profound its story becomes.

For those interested in exploring Indika’s authentic vision, we strongly recommend playing it on PC or another console. It is unfortunate that technical shortcomings on the Switch compromise what is otherwise a compelling and original experience.

*Indika has been reviewed on a Switch 2 with a review code provided by the publisher.