Inhuman Resources PS5 Review: A Chilling Corporate Horror Choose-Your-Own-Adventure

Inhuman Resources: A Literary Machination is a narrative-driven adventure developed by Finnegan Motors and published on consoles (including PS5) by Dolores Entertainment. It blends interactive fiction, choose-your-own-adventure elements, light RPG mechanics, and psychological horror blended into a surreal corporate satire.

You step into the shoes of a desperate, down-on-his-luck protagonist who's behind on rent and facing eviction from his aunt's place. A mysterious job offer from SMYRNACORP, a seemingly mundane human resources firm, promises a lifeline. But once inside the company's labyrinthine offices, it quickly becomes clear that nothing is as it appears. The corporation hides layers of conspiracy, moral decay, and existential dread beneath its bureaucratic facade, evoking the unsettling vibes of Severance crossed with dystopian tales like 1984 or Black Mirror.

The story unfolds as a slow-burn psychological thriller laced with anti-capitalist satire. As a new employee, you navigate daily office life that gradually spirals into paranoia, ethical dilemmas, and horrifying revelations about the company's true purpose. Key characters include a roster of eccentric, often demented coworkers and sadistic supervisors whose personalities and backstories branch depending on your interactions. Some become uneasy allies in a risky plot to undermine SMYRNACORP, while others embody the soul-crushing machinery of corporate control. Dialogue options and relationships feel meaningful, with characters reacting dynamically to your growing complicity or resistance. The narrative's non-linear structure rewards curiosity, as piecing together cryptic clues exposes deeper layers of manipulation in a post-truth world.

The Gameplay ...

Gameplay centers on reading rich, atmospheric text accompanied by minimal visuals, making choices that genuinely shape the path forward. It features hundreds of branching story routes, multiple endings, and light RPG elements where decisions made grant traits or points that unlock (or lock) future dialogue and actions, rather than a traditional skill tree. You'll solve interactive puzzles, hack systems, examine evidence and security footage, and tackle moral dilemmas where there's rarely a clear "right" answer. No quick-time events or reflexes are required. It's all about thoughtful decision-making with two-button controls.

A typical playthrough lasts around 4-11 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore branches, with the structure divided into chapters that often represent in-game days for natural stopping points. The end objective varies by your choices. You can survive with your sanity intact, escape the company's clutches, actively sabotage it from within, or succumb to its horrors. Secrets, hidden items, and alternate routes encourage multiple runs to see different outcomes and character arcs.

The Presentation ...

Presentation leans heavily into its "literary machination" identity with clean, stylized graphic design that evokes anachronistic office aesthetics, like retro-futuristic interfaces, dimly lit corridors, and unsettling visual flourishes that heighten the unease without relying on gore or jump scares. The writing shines as the star, delivering sharp, immersive prose that pulls you into the protagonist's deteriorating mental state. The soundtrack complements this perfectly with moody, minimalist audio that builds tension through subtle ambient drones, eerie corporate muzak, and occasional haunting tracks, enhancing the psychological immersion.

The Verdict ...

Inhuman Resources delivers a compelling, thought-provoking experience with strong replay value thanks to its expansive branching paths and multiple endings. While the heavy text focus may not appeal to action enthusiasts, the tight pacing, meaningful choices, and clever mechanics make for a rewarding narrative adventure that feels fresh and immersive. It's a short but dense package that lingers in the mind long after credits roll, offering more depth than many bigger-budget titles in the genre.

This game is best suited for fans of interactive fiction, visual novels, psychological horror, and corporate dystopia stories. Those who enjoy reading-driven gameplay and don't mind trading spectacle for sharp writing and player agency. If you're looking for a cerebral, unsettling dive into bureaucracy's dark underbelly it's perfect for a thoughtful evening session on your PS5, and it's well worth picking up.