For those who like FPS, multiplayer games and spy shenaniganeries in general: Deceive Inc. is now on sale!
(Conversion: the base game (in the middle) is roughly 3-4 USD. Don't take my word for it though, it might be a different price in your area, But it's still really cheap.)
What is Deceive Inc. and how is it played?
Deceive Inc. is an extraction FPS where you're tasked with going into an NPC-populated area to extract a briefcase by blending into the NPCs, all without getting yourself sussed out and gunned down by other players.
To do so, you have a Cover, and have to obtain Intel. You get your Intel from around the map and change your Cover to enter higher-security rooms to get your 1. Field Upgrades (perks), 2. Keycards (which will let you into doors for free) and most importantly 3. disable the Security Terminals to the Vault.
Once the Vault is open, you get in, get the briefcase, and get to the Extraction Point(s) safely, or at least alive. Keep in mind: there are still other agents who want the briefcase, and in most cases, that requires you to be dead.
Sounds fun? Get the game!
2. Okay, but why?
It's fun!
The community on the official Discord server is very friendly, especially towards new players. There are custom games organised every so often, and I've personally gotten to know a bunch of friends through it.
The game itself and its mechanics are fairly simple once you get through the tutorial (which will explain it all in better detail), but the mind games people play and the Shenanigans are the main attraction. There are a couple specific agents that are very good at this: for one, Madame Xiu. Her main skill is teleporting to other NPCs (and there's a delightfully evil laugh as she does that), which can get you out of fights, reposition, OR get you into one if you so happen to teleport into another player. Here she is:
She's also the tallest character in-game, NPCs included. I love her.
And two, we have Larcin, who is a certified Rat Bastardโข๏ธand whose main gimmick is 1. stealing items from other players and 2. turning invisible. You can imagine the chaos that comes about. Here he is:
He's French, but don't let that stop you from the fun.
Also: the music. This is one (or four; it's a medley) of the many bangers in game, have a listen:
IMO it's worth it just for the music. The graphics don't let up too. As for its diversity, more than half the playable cast is canonically queer half the cast is Not White, and half are women.
3. But I'm bad at FPS!
Don't worry, I'm terrible too the game offers a Beginner Protection Mode to players below level 50, which pairs you with other players below level 50 and some bots. Past that level, you can have private custom lobbies that you fill with bots, or invite your friends to play with you too. There's also Training mode, where you can test your build against a bot that can be revived over and over again indefinitely. But winning is only a tenth of the fun: most of the game is based around the spying.
4. Does it have co-op?
Yep! There are three modes: solos, duos and trios. In solos, you're on your own: any spy you see is an enemy. In duos and trios, you pair up with another (or two other) friend(s) to extract. Teams means more shenanigans, but also more fighting (you can be revived by your teammate though, so this isn't much of an issue), so be on your toes. If you're looking for a co-op game that isn't a platformer, this is it!
5. Microtransactions? ๐คจ
There are two currencies in the game: Credits and Bonds. Nominally, Credits are the free currency (you earn them just by playing games, for 50-150 per game depending on performance) and Bonds are the premium currency you can pay IRL money for. However, you can also pick up Bonds for free in the game (there are just piles of Bonds lying around in maps), and you can also earn Bonds by levelling up your characters (doesn't take anything more than time and effort). Past the first 10 levels, every level you gain on a character gives you some free Bonds.
All Bonds do is unlock additional cosmetics. The characters are all unlockable through Credits, and you get four free characters right off the bat (Larcin above is one of them). There is absolutely no p2w mechanic (every win is pure skill and luck), and once you purchase the Season Passes, they are available for forever, indefinitely. The devs have made DI very friendly to players in this regard. Of course, you can always buy Bonds (and support the game!) if you're impatient.
In conclusion: get Deceive Inc. and get deceivin'!
Bonus: have a Vigil. I know you love Vigil.
