Deal | Emotional, dark and masterfully crafted: Critically acclaimed plague-era adventure hits lowest price on Steam
A Plague Tale: Innocence, developed by the French studio Asobo, was released on May 14, 2019, and published by Focus Home Interactive, now known as Focus Entertainment. A standout feature is its swarms of rats – sometimes numbering in the tens of thousands – brought to life by a custom-built engine that enhances the game’s hauntingly intense atmosphere.
The story begins in 1348, during the height of the Black Death. At its center are 15-year-old Amicia and her younger brother Hugo, who has suffered from a mysterious illness since birth. When the Inquisition storms their home and kills their parents, the two are forced to flee. What follows is a gripping journey through plague- and war-torn France. The German gaming magazine GameStar reviewed A Plague Tale: Innocence and praised its emotional storytelling and memorable characters. The presentation also received high marks, with the game being described as looking “fantastic” for an indie title.
A Plague Tale: Innocence leans heavily on stealth-based gameplay. Amicia isn’t a fighter – being spotted often means instant death – so players must rely on her slingshot to distract or disable enemies. A smart crafting system lets her create various alchemical tools, such as smoke to disorient foes or fire to repel rats. These rats are the true stars – or rather, terrors – of the game, swarming through levels in massive waves, kept at bay only by light. According to GameStar, the blend of sneaking mechanics, crafting and upgrade options adds plenty of variety and keeps the gameplay engaging.
If you’re looking for a truly challenging adventure, A Plague Tale: Innocence might not be the right fit. Despite offering a variety of gameplay options, GameStar notes that the mechanics remain relatively simple. The focus is more on atmosphere and storytelling. Boss fights, in particular, can feel uneven and don’t always blend well with the rest of the gameplay. Still, GameStar awarded the game a solid 84 out of 100. On Metacritic, the reception is similarly positive, with a Metascore of 81 and a User Score of 8.4. Steam users are even more enthusiastic, with 93% of around 55,000 reviews rated positively.
80% discount on Steam
A Plague Tale: Innocence is normally priced at around $40 on Steam but is currently available for just $8 thanks to an 80% discount running until August 4. According to SteamDB, this matches the game’s lowest price to date, although similar discounts have occurred multiple times before.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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