Adventure Game Hotspot

• PC
• SWITCH
• PS5
• 83%
• États-Unis

Although not as deep as I’d have liked, Gamedec is an enjoyable narrative RPG with thoughtful gameplay pacing and direction. A first playthrough will take around eight hours, and subsequent return trips will likely be just as long, given the multitude of routes to explore. It’s highly replayable, and character progression manages to be involved without becoming too complex. The cyberpunk setting isn’t anything we haven’t seen before, but the investigative mechanics nevertheless pulled me into the world and kept me feeling invested in it. Character building is smartly woven into the narrative structure, and how the game opens and closes routes according to your choices is fantastic. You don’t always have a lot of control over where to go and when, but you’re still tasked with putting clues together in order to build your cases, so it never feels like you’re simply on autopilot with any given route you take. Ultimately, adventure and role-playing fans alike will undoubtedly be impressed with the genre-bending experience, making it an easy recommendation.

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

It’s to Bone Totem’s immense credit that, after all that, I still consider it far more successful than not. The first two thirds are so impressive and so consistently strong that the lackluster ending can’t fully diminish them. When Bone Totem is firing on all cylinders, it’s an inventive, engaging and gorgeously visualized slice of nightmare. It follows up its predecessors in a novel and surprising way, and it provides a satisfying new chapter in the story of the Cayne Corporation. It’s impossible to ignore when it starts running out of gas, and it’s hard for me to imagine a way the climactic material might ever have worked as a conclusion to what came before. Still, Bone Totem is consistently ambitious in its aims, and if the developers can take and build on the parts that succeeded, I’d happily follow them once more into the ominous darkness of the future.

• PC
• 75%
• États-Unis

It may not land the emotional wallop it intended to, or have quite enough inventiveness to escape the shadow of the best games of its kind, but Planet of Lana is nevertheless a solid puzzle-platforming adventure that’s easy to recommend. Production value is stellar in every respect, with enough engaging gameplay with the cutest of sidekicks to warrant a trek across robot-infested terrain. Those without any action-oriented interest or ability will want to steer clear, but if titles like Limbo and Inside mean anything to you, a beautiful new world of side-scrolling challenge awaits.

• PC
• 54%
• États-Unis

It is difficult to think of an audience that I would recommend Tape: Unveil the Memories to. The story treads no new ground and never quite materializes into a coherent narrative. The stealth action is not difficult enough for those looking for action, and the narrative-only option doesn’t provide enough suspense without it to overcome the mediocre story. And while there are several good puzzles, they are late in arriving and scattered among many repetitive ones. Add that to the occasional bug and poor localization, and there’s no real reason to play this when there are more polished games on the market.

• PC
• 90%
• États-Unis

As the opening credits to The Awakened point out, development on the game began in April of 2022, just two months after Ukraine was invaded by Russia in a brutal war that is still ongoing at the time of writing. Based in Kyiv, Frogwares has demonstrated an admirable resilience in refusing to allow such adversity to stop them from making art, and that they’ve been able to deliver such an impressive entry under these circumstances is nothing short of amazing. But Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened would be an excellent game even without its extraordinary production background. It is the rare remake that warrants its existence not just through graphical updates (though it looks considerably better than its predecessor) but through a commitment to fresh interpretations of its characters. It is a fully fleshed-out, engaging adventure presented with sharp storytelling, recycling the best of the original while offering a satisfying continuation of the Chapter One timeline. Whether you’ve played the earlier version of The Awakened or not, fans of great detective games will find it well worth the time.

• PS5
• 70%
• États-Unis

In most ways, this game is a worthy follow-up to KeokeN’s previous lunar adventure. It feels like the development team pushed themselves to expand upon the scope and art direction of that game, though not always with the desired outcomes. A new climbing mechanic, disconnected biomes to explore, and some rough-looking character models are noticeable downsides to the increased ambition, but are saved by intriguing indoor spaces and some highly impressive teamwork between animators and voice actors to truly bring the cast to life. Overall, Deliver Us Mars is the weaker-by-a-thin-margin entry in what appears poised to be (at least) a trilogy, and the promise to spend more time with Kat and those she holds dear has me already eagerly anticipating the next.

• PC
• 72%
• États-Unis

It’s a shame about the occasionally glitchy gameplay and uneven voice acting, because Whateverland is otherwise a very fun game. The choice-based structure actually works, unlike the many games that only give you the impression that your decisions matter, the soundtrack is brilliant, and the characters and gameplay are truly entertaining. It may be a bit unpolished here and there, but any weaknesses are easily forgiven in light of the quirky charm and alternate paths that make it worth playing more than once.

• PC
• 70%
• États-Unis

Children of Silentown is a game with many winning qualities, but it gets in its own way in certain key areas the further it goes along. Its unassuming presentation looks and sounds great, and I really enjoyed Lucy’s story and felt for her when life took some darker turns. Which made it feel that much worse when it abruptly ended without the satisfying conclusion it so needed. Basing the outcome on a nearly random late choice, and blocking other finales without starting over from the beginning, further soured me on the endgame and ultimately impacted my overall enjoyment. I liked much of the game until that point, but not quite enough to play all six or so hours several times over. You can’t help but be charmed by Lucy’s plight, but once she leaves home her journey gets caught in the weeds of repetition, resulting in an uneven experience that somewhat lets down its promising first half.

• PC
• 84%
• États-Unis

For those with enough patience to see it through, A Space for the Unbound becomes an intensely rewarding experience that pulls all the right heartstrings. While it starts out slow and tedious and perhaps focuses too much on light arcade sequences, eventually a multi-layered plot with clever puzzles accompanied by engrossing atmosphere and music emerge to treat those who stick with it. It may not be perfect, but this ambitious, culturally distinctive narrative adventure by Mojiken is an easy recommendation.

• PC
• 68%
• États-Unis

As it turns out, Colossal Cave is almost as difficult to review as it is to solve. Every time I thought I’d made up my mind about it, I’d play a bit more and feel conflicted once again. On one hand, it’s an impressive bit of historical preservation, serving as a quality remake of a legendary game. On the other, it’s still a frequently confounding experience that nearly drove me nuts at times (and will probably test the average player’s patience more than any new modern game could get away with). Nonetheless, there is something that just feels pleasantly “right” about Roberta and Ken Williams making games again. Here’s hoping that Colossal Cave won’t be the last time we see the (rather lovely) Cygnus Entertainment logo preceding an adventure game in the 2020s and beyond.

• PC
• 79%
• États-Unis

Other than a couple of small technical issues, however, the game is very enjoyable. I especially loved the characters and their different roles in this quirky city. As an animal lover, I was immediately drawn in by the quest of saving Can Dog, and each time he slipped away or something happened to him, I let out loud outbursts of desperate yelps. While it is admittedly a bit short and the puzzles are anything but original, Boxville is a truly beautiful game about friendship and the importance of being nice to others, regardless of whether it is people or cans.

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

World War II games generally skew heavily toward telling hyper violent tales from a soldier’s perspective. Whether in the forests of the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, or amongst the ruins of Stalingrad and the Eastern Front, the main concern is usually staying behind cover and getting as many headshots as you can. Not a lot of attention has been given to the experiences of ordinary citizens trying to cope with the horrors of occupation by living their lives as best they can, and this is what makes Gerda: A Flame in Winter stand out. It lacks much in the way of gameplay, but it does not lack for tension throughout. The story is a deeply personal one that relies on choices rather than gunfire, and should not be missed by any fan of narrative-driven dramas.

• PC
• 85%
• États-Unis

Lord Winklebottom Investigates deftly blends dry, frightfully British humour and quirky characters with just enough brain strain to keep things interesting. While not overly long or complex, the painterly visuals, lush orchestral soundtrack and spot-on voice acting make it a thoroughly lovely experience while it lasts. It also manages to pull off a delicate balancing act, sprinkling an absurd parody of a golden age detective story with just enough heart and realism to ground what could otherwise have been a ridiculous confection and turn it into something more memorable. If you fancy some cosy crime, aristocratic high jinks, or just some virtual tea and crumpets, it's time to don your deerstalker and head to the consulting rooms of Winklebottom and Frumple.

• PC
• 65%
• États-Unis

With strong acting performances, an intriguing villain, tense music, and the possibility to explore multiple endings, The Gallery has a number of things going for it. However, a lack of any real definition of Dorian’s motivations, a relatively non-cinematic presentation, and a superfluous choice of protagonist and time period do mar the experience somewhat, or at least prevent it from reaching its potential. In the end, the game is really just average, its weaknesses not significant enough to be terrible but its strengths not enough to distinguish it in its genre. With stronger FMV games out there, including the director’s own prior work, this one is for those who enjoy character dramas and are looking to while away a few hours between more substantial outings.

• PC
• 93%
• États-Unis

There aren’t many games quite like The Case of the Golden Idol. Actually, I’d go as far to say that there’s none … and that makes me a little sad, now that I’ve been so thoroughly spoiled and the bar’s been raised so high. I came into this game hoping for an experience that could go toe-to-toe with Return of the Obra Dinn, and came away having played something that fully scratched that itch while being entirely its own thing. I wholeheartedly hope that the developers of this magnificent work (or heck, even wannabes of similar caliber) do their best to make a follow-up, because oh, how I’ll gleefully soak up every moment.

• PC
• PS4
• XONE
• 55%
• États-Unis

There’s nothing about Edengate: The Edge of Life that’s inherently broken or neglected: the voiced dialogue is serviceable, the music fades into its atmospheric background, and navigating the town of Edengate works well enough despite having so little to do. It’s more a case of a game that desperately needed one of its core elements – be it story, puzzles, or creepy mood – to take charge and step into the foreground, putting a definitive stamp onto the overall experience. Instead, everything is accounted for but nothing makes any waves, so the game ultimately just fizzles out and fades away in a forgettable thud rather than a memorable bang.

• PC
• 70%
• États-Unis

Over the years, the stories about extraterrestrials that have stuck with me are actually about humanity, drawing us into understanding ourselves and our place in the universe. Somerville, unfortunately, doesn’t quite soar to those stellar heights during its four-hour runtime, as the player is never really invited into the world and its characters. But while the story, and especially the baffling third act, may not be something to phone home about, the style and level of artistic craftsmanship make it an immersive experience all the same. Even with a smattering of awkward gameplay and puzzle moments, you may find that the cinematic scenes, harrowing encounters, and exciting late-game build-up ultimately make it worth the visitation.

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

If you’re a fan of character-driven works of interactive fiction, and a graphic novel-style presentation doesn’t turn you off, you should seek out As Dusk Falls. Not a particularly long game, taking around seven hours to complete a single playthrough, it lacks much in the way of traditional gameplay, but the writing, acting, and genuine consequences for your actions more than make up for it. The later chapters falter somewhat in their effectiveness, and the ending feels unnecessarily jarring, but there’s plenty of replayability and lots of incentive to try new paths, making the game a strong choice for story lovers.