# Penrose

> Interactive non-linear narrative game with environmental manipulation and story exploration. (iPhone/iPad app by doublespeak games.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penrose/id1516904436 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [doublespeak games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1050503140)
- Category: Entertainment, Games, Adventure, Puzzle
- Price: $0.99
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 33 App Store ratings · 23 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 9.0 · 119 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-09-01
- Data updated: 2026-09-03
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penrose/id1516904436/reviews.md

## What is Penrose?

"A strange thrumming then, not in the air or ears. Sensed dully in a way that I'd never felt before..."

Penrose is a non-linear narrative by doublespeak games. Scroll forwards and backwards through an ever-changing story. Manipulate the environment, explore every possibility, and unravel the mystery at the heart of everything...

## Key features

- Non-linear narrative
- Scrollable story
- Environmental manipulation
- Explore possibilities
- Unravel mystery

## Chart rankings

- #195 in Top Paid · Entertainment (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (10 of 23)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penrose/id1516904436/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Haunting, beautiful

*2026-04-09, version 1.1.2*

I was so excited to find this on Steam for my sister, and then came to check back in on the app. To my horror, my star rating for an older, broken version had never updated. Allow me to resolve this by reviewing in both places, because Penrose is one of my favorite games in the world.

I’m about to sound really pretentious, so I have to emphasize upfront that Penrose has something for anyone who loves stories. It’s very accessible without being shallow. 

This game deserves to be so much more widely known. For a very simple, largely text-based interface, the graphic design is immaculate, allowing for quiet immersion in the story and excellent sound design. This might sound silly, but as a person with ADHD sensory issues, I have to point out the actually-for-once perfect dark mode color choices. On that same note, this is the only game I will never play without the background music on. It’s mournful and mysterious and never grating, setting a perfect ambience to the story. 

The writing is clean and economical while remaining engaging and lovely. Purpose-driven yet immersive. Some may respond negatively to the mystery and the requisite imagination the story demands, but in the age of Content, Penrose is a work of artisanal craft and a standout journey. Exploration is so hard to blend with narrative even in a fully rendered 3D environment, and yet this interactive novella manages to inspire a sense of cohesion and discovery with an elegance one almost never encounters in interactive media. It’s an experience that has stayed with me for years and always will.

### 5/5 — It's perfect

*2026-01-30, version 1.1.2*

This is my prime example of video games being used as an artform. This game is, and I will absolutely not exaggerate this, beautiful.
Doublespeak, I first found you playing stacklands online. Please, never stop creating your games; they're incredible.

### 5/5 — I had a spiritual experience playing this game

*2025-10-14, version 1.1.2*

I genuinely cannot think of a game that has affected me this deeply in a long time. It is an experience that can only exist as a game and I think that makes it even more beautiful and profound. It had me feeling at times like a genius and at other times a monster.

### 5/5 — Obsessed

*2025-04-21, version 1.1.2*

The writing, the characters, the story 😫😫😫 If you like character driven puzzle stories TRY THIS

### 5/5 — Amazing interactive story

*2025-01-26, version 1.1.2*

If you love reading and wish to feel more engaged in the story , this game is perfect for you! The game mechanics are unique and weird and allow you to navigate the different timelines of the characters. I loved getting to know each character more and more as the story progressed and the end of the game is mind blowing! Truly a work of art ! Good job Townsend! ❤️

### 5/5 — Incredible hidden gem

*2024-10-15, version 1.1.2*

Made by the genius who created “a dark room” and the genre busting “Gridland”, this is peak narrative storytelling. Honestly I was blown away, is there anything this dev doesn’t bring to the next level. Astonishing game!

### 4/5 — Good, some odd grammatical choices

*2024-08-31, version 1.1.2*

The writing is overall great, the story is captivating and the puzzles are fun to solve. My only issue is at some points the grammar of the writing feels as though I'm reading something that has been directly translated from another language. I continued assuming it was a style choice that I was missing, but after thinking it through I really don't think it is. The errors are small but they shine out in a story with verbose vocabulary and correct usage of semicolons. I'm more puzzled than upset by it.

### 5/5 — this game is just. wow

*2023-08-06, version 1.1.2*

I was a little annoyed that the browser version was just the demo but you know what. If it wasn’t for that I might’ve never played this game. The mechanics are extremely simple but the writing is incredible. It’s a bit of a hidden gem but I’d honestly be willing to pay more than I did for that experience.

### 3/5 — Almost the Perfect Game

*2023-05-11, version 1.1.2*

I started playing on my browser without realizing it was just a demo, but didn’t hesitate to get the app because the story had sucked me in. The only
drawback is that once you “finish” the game, it locks you into the title screen and you can’t go back to read the story or see which paths you missed. Would 100% be 5+ stars if you didn’t get locked out of a game you paid for :\

### 5/5 — Best played with headphones, reading in the dark

*2023-04-28, version 1.1.2*

This is a game I’ve spent more time than I’d usually admit thinking about. Best played slowly, thoroughly, and defiantly more than one.

The music really makes it, and left me staring into space more as I realized what it was telling me.

You’ll want to be a part of it

## Frequently asked questions about Penrose

### What is Penrose?

Penrose is a non-linear narrative game developed by doublespeak games. It allows players to scroll forwards and backwards through an ever-changing story, manipulate the environment, and explore different possibilities to uncover a central mystery.

### How does the story progression work?

The narrative is non-linear, meaning you can move freely through the story by scrolling. This allows you to revisit past events or jump ahead, exploring different paths and outcomes as you uncover the mystery.

### What platforms is Penrose available on?

The provided description does not specify the platforms Penrose is available on. Typically, such narrative games are released on mobile devices (iOS and Android) and potentially PC.

### Is Penrose free to play?

Based on the provided information, the app does not have in-app purchases or ads, suggesting it is a paid application. Users would likely purchase it once to access the full experience.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.1.2 — 2021-12-22

Paragraphs should no longer be missing their last line. I hope.

### 1.1.1 — 2021-12-14

Actually fix ios15

### 1.1.0 — 2021-11-28

- iOS15 support!
- Updated to OpenFL 9.1

### 1.0.4 — 2020-12-02

- Fixed text-wrapping bug in toggle links

### 1.0.3 — 2020-09-10

- Font size selection
- Minor UI improvements

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## More apps by doublespeak games

- [Super Gridland](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/super-gridland/id1158436270)

All apps by doublespeak games: https://appshunter.io/developer/1050503140

## Related topics

[doublespeak games](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/doublespeak-games) · [pinrose](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pinrose)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-03.*