The End: Inari's Quest is a single-player action adventure indie game set in a cyberpunk environment. Players control a fox that must navigate hostile urban spaces while protecting a cub and following a quest given by a mysterious divinity. The experience centers on stealth, limited combat, puzzle solving, and exploration across detailed city locations.
Gameplay
Core movement relies on keyboard and mouse or joystick controls. The fox can run, jump, and attack. Specific actions include playing dead to evade detection and sleeping to restore health. Objects are picked up or dropped using the mouth. Cyborg enemies can be knocked down by charging from behind or striking their legs. The cub requires constant protection from threats such as irradiated rats.
Stealth forms the main loop. Players must avoid or distract flying robots on patrol routes and cyborgs that activate based on player actions. Getting noticed triggers pursuit, with some cyborgs delivering kicks on contact. Memorizing layouts helps prevent repeated exposure to danger in tight spaces.
Environment variety supports different approaches. Subway tunnels, street networks, apartment rooms, building corridors, open squares, and a sizable forest all appear. Puzzles often involve route planning and object manipulation to stay hidden while progressing.
Game Modes
The game runs entirely in single-player mode with no multiplayer options. Content is structured as episodes. The first episode lasts slightly more than one hour and covers the fox's release through the initial meeting with the goddess Inari. Later episodes continue the quest to locate the last humans.
Progression mixes linear story beats with open exploration. Players revisit areas to solve environmental challenges or avoid newly active threats. No separate competitive or cooperative modes exist.
Story and Setting
The narrative places the player as a captive fox freed in a cyberpunk city. A divinity named Inari directs the search for remaining humans. Threats include random drones, aggressive rats, and cyborg patrols. The fox must balance direct protection of the cub with careful pathfinding to avoid escalation.
Inspirations from classic cyberpunk works shape the atmosphere, including visual and thematic nods to dense urban decay mixed with advanced technology. The world features irradiated zones and malfunctioning machinery that react dynamically to player presence.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player reception on the primary distribution platform stands at mostly negative, with 37 percent positive reviews from 62 total submissions. The short first episode and focus on deliberate stealth and puzzle elements appeal to those who enjoy patient, observation-heavy indie adventures.
The game suits players interested in animal-protagonist stories, cyberpunk aesthetics, and mechanics that combine evasion with light physical interactions. Those seeking fast-paced action or extensive content may find the limited scope and deliberate pace less engaging. Availability remains through standard digital storefronts with occasional discounts.
