Adventure Game Hotspot

• PC
• 78%
• États-Unis

Although I expected to play only as Lupin himself, the playful way in which Arsene Lupin: Once a Thief's narrative chronology is broken up between Lupin carrying out his heists and Ganimard trying to figure out how he does them is very fun. Some of the puzzles are fairly straightforward and overly forgiving, with unlimited tries and no repercussions when you do something wrong, but the more traditional investigative puzzling is rewarding to solve, and whenever I succeeded in linking evidence correctly, I felt as if I was donning a black cloak and top hat of my own in plotting my latest heist. The music is great, the isometric scenes fun to rotate and explore, and the supporting cast just begs to be fooled by Lupin. Since I’ve read some of the Leblanc books, I recognized some plot elements here and there, like how Lupin escapes his unavoidable arrest, but it’s certainly not necessary to know anything about the character going in. Just like his more famous British and Belgian contemporaries, Lupin is a character straight out of literary fiction who was long overdue a lead role, and I’m sure he will charm his way into the hearts of those who aren’t already familiar with his antics as well.

• PC
• 88%
• États-Unis

Despite its heavy-sounding subject matter, I was completely charmed by this narrative-focused drama. The idea of a main character influencing the people left behind after her death really speaks to the imagination. Humankind has pondered the mysteries of death for ages; we can fear it or we can embrace it, and this game isn’t afraid to explore grief, loss, and depression without becoming too bleak or overly religious in the process. It’s hard to say a game dealing with these emotions is “fun,” but in some ways it truly is, confronting you with your own helplessness when dealing with others, because you can’t suddenly force people to behave differently simply because you want them to. As a simulation of life, Closer the Distance very much succeeds. Certainly it plays on the feels, becoming a bit dramatic now and again with its artistic cutscenes, trying very hard to make you cry. But overall, this is a narrative that fits in with novels like Reservoir 13, Everything I Never Told You and The Lovely Bones – all dramas about a community dealing with grief and picking up the pieces after a traumatic event. If people still don’t believe video games can be art, they really should play this one!

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

If you’re the sort of person who likes to slow down and take time enjoying things at your own pace, you’ll probably fall in love with Europa. If you’re the type of goal-driven dynamo who sometimes forgets to appreciate the little things, then you’re probably someone who needs some Europa in your life. (If that sounds judgy, I confess I’m generally more the second type.) This is not a game to “beat” to feel victorious, but rather one to savour as the gentle, meditative yet still endearingly entertaining experience it is. Yes, it could use more variety, and yes, it could probably do with at least a touch more challenge to fully engage the right brain as much as it will the left. Plus I’m still a tad confused about part of an awkward finale. But ultimately these things are more quibbles than serious complaints about a game that largely succeeds at being exactly what it wants to be. If that sounds like your idea of a good time for a few hours, you’d be loony to pass it up.

• PC
• 55%
• États-Unis

If there’s more to criticize than praise, it’s not because this game is bad so much as it can’t get out of its own way to be as good as it could be. Production quality is high, and even with all the limitations and irritations and slow-as-molasses progression, I stayed motivated to keep playing for the eight-plus hours it took to reach the end, which is saying something because I usually don’t have the patience for stealth games. But oh, it could have been so much more! More freedom to strategize to avoid making sound, or even making USE of sound to one’s advantage. A more judicious use of Alex’s affliction to make it seem more uniquely asthmatic. More puzzles to solve, and more freaking light in a game where darkness is not supposed to be relevant! And ideally, a second character that would allow the personal stakes to resonate more deeply, as it did so effectively in the movies. As it is, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead ends up being a decent but disappointingly rote survival horror game that isn’t as fun as it sounds.

• PC
• 70%
• États-Unis

Clock Tower: Rewind is an enigma. Its mere existence is welcome, as it’s the first readily available, English-language edition of a game that has been hugely influential on horror gaming since it first released in 1995. The beautiful pixel graphics still hold up, and there are some welcome improvements to the base game now too, including the ability to run up stairs and the “Rewind” function as a useful feature for correcting mistakes. It’s in the blending of the old with the new that the remake starts to unravel, however, with inconsistent controls across menus, and voice acting only for a few brief motion comics that are entirely separate from the main game (and in a completely different art style). There is a rare demo version of the original Super Famicom release included in the Extras menu, but it is only in Japanese. None of the FMV cutscenes from Clock Tower: The First Fear or Clock Tower for Windows 95 are here, even if the in-game animations added in The First Fear are still present. There are high-resolution scans of original box arts, manuals, and game guides from the original releases, but these are not complete and are again only in Japanese. As someone who has loved this series for many years, I am incredibly happy that the game that started it all is finally making its way outside of Japan. I just can’t shake the feeling that it could have been something more.

• PC
• 70%
• États-Unis

• PS5
• 88%
• États-Unis

Fans of this studio’s previous outings will have a good idea of the general skeleton awaiting them in Still Wakes the Deep, though critically kicked up several notches. But even those who usually prefer a more open-ended gameplay-driven experience will find some pleasant surprises awaiting them here. The Chinese Room have pushed the boundaries of their story-focused formula by involving the player more in the act of traversal, from deliberate (and very short) stealth sections to QTE sequences popping up during panicked platforming. Most important is the masterful marriage of a chilling suspense story with fantastic presentation values and plenty of frights to go around, including both grotesque body horror and existential dread. If that sounds like an enjoyable Saturday night to you, then consider this your invitation to take a vacation to the North Sea – I hear there’s an opening that’s just become available on a nearby oil rig.

• PC
• 95%
• États-Unis

So much fun and humor and character and charm are all packed into Duck Detective: The Secret Salami that it’s hard to believe Happy Broccoli managed to bring the run time in just under two hours. The time whizzes by with nary a second wasted and feels like the perfect helping of a delicious dessert. It will make you think, it will make you laugh, it will make you smile, and it will make you wish you could go on a toast bender and forget the entire thing just so you could experience it again.

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

Even in many of the best puzzle-adventures, if there isn’t a lot of story or nonlinear exploration to supplement the gameplay, there often comes a point where I start to become weary of solving one puzzle after another. Somehow, though, while Paper Trail‘s structure is highly guided and the tale being told lacks the depth of other more narrative-focused adventures, the playfulness of the folding mechanic kept me happily exploring and experimenting throughout each tightly designed level. And since it’s all such a pleasant experience, with many vibrant locales to wander through, characters to meet, and a captivating soundtrack to listen to, I remained thoroughly engaged to the last page.

• PC
• 88%
• États-Unis

Despite an abrupt ending that kept me wanting more closure, INDIKA’s journey, with its different varieties of gameplay, gorgeous if drearily realistic environments while exploring and playful retro pixel art for the mini-game flashbacks, captivated me from beginning to the credit roll. It’s a story of right and wrong, and realizing that doing what’s expected of you through the doctrine of religion doesn’t safeguard you from evil. It raises the question of whether you should resort to turning “evil” yourself then, and whether all acts can even be categorized that way to begin with when looking at basic needs and survival. Are morals universal or merely a human construct? Is religion an absolute truth or a manipulative tool? While I was expecting quite a controversial game, I was happy to find it isn’t all that in-your-face. It certainly offers food for thought if you like to philosophize, or you can simply play the game, experience the (sometimes disturbing) five-hour story and ignore all the symbolism. I for one will be praying that the developers make more games like this!

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

There hasn’t been a Moomin game of this caliber before, and it will be music to the ears of fans of Jansson’s whimsical world that Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley represents it so well, especially when it comes to the fantastic art direction, music, and sound design. It was a joy to explore all the different areas of the valley and bask in the peaceful ambience, meeting the large cast of characters along the way. While it doesn’t quite manage to capture the depth of character and melancholy atmosphere that Jansson’s books are well known for, and there’s something a little odd about focusing on Snufkin’s quest for vigilante justice against the local parks department, I wouldn’t let that dissuade you. The game is ultimately a celebration of the world of Moomin, and though it’s quite accessible to children, given the simple gameplay and low difficulty, it still has plenty to offer a more experienced player looking for a cozy, mostly stress-free adventure to enjoy. If you don’t know anything about Moomin, neither did anyone in my family, and yet we still thoroughly enjoyed it and my kids are even interested in a second playthrough, so we all readily give it our seven thumbs up. It’s really a very nice game, and in the words of a wise old soul… "All nice things are good for you.” – Moominpappa (The Exploits of Moominpappa, 1950)

• PC
• 70%
• États-Unis

Harold Halibut is more interactive experience than game, but what an experience it is. The craft and imagination that went into literally building the world is incredible to behold, and the voice acting and cinematic soundtrack both fit perfectly. It’s also refreshing to see obvious sci-fi tropes sidelined in favour of smaller-scale, character-driven stories. That said, it can feel slow and meandering, especially without puzzles to solve or choices to make. I definitely wouldn’t have minded a little less backtracking and a little more to do, but I kept wanting to dive back in anyway, because as idiosyncratic as they are, the characters and world both felt so charmingly real and relatable. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re willing to lean back, take your time and go with the flow, life aboard the Fedora I offers an experience that’s both alien and compellingly human.

• PC
• 83%
• États-Unis

Afterdream definitely has some eerie-looking imagery and sounds, but before long it becomes obvious that this game isn’t simply a scary story but also one of grief, loss, saying goodbye, getting closure and accepting the finality of death. Even though the puzzles are on the easy side, there’s enough diversity of gameplay to keep you entertained on an interactive level. But it’s the heart-tugging story of Jennifer trying so hard to make contact with her deceased father, and her encounters with the other ghosts stuck in their own purgatory, that make this quite the emotional journey as well. It may only take three hours to finish, but it really is a dream to play through.

• PC
• 88%
• États-Unis

While the user interface takes some getting used to, and the script could have used a little more polish, the story and investigative gameplay of Between Horizons are highly entertaining. I really enjoyed playing as Stella, molding both her character and the story’s ultimate outcome with my dialogue choices and efficiency as the Zephyr’s chief of security. I loved roaming around the spaceship looking for clues and talking to other characters, each with their own unique personality and background, with not one but ten different mysteries to investigate. And there’s a great amount of detailed worldbuilding, both visually and narratively found in this game. It’s a shame that trying for a different outcome demands another complete playthrough, but I was very satisfied with the ending I got, despite only finding the right solution for eight out of ten cases. Even if you’re like me and generally have no real affinity for science fiction, this intriguing detective/sci-fi story aims for the stars, and as far as I’m concerned it’s mission successful!

• PS5
• 49%
• États-Unis

As a long-time fan of Tintin, I really wanted to love Cigars of the Pharaoh, but despite going in with enthusiasm and optimism, my joy was quickly turned into frustration and disappointment. I did temporarily get my hopes up again when the game began feeling more like an adventure, only for it to be turned around once more. This roller coaster of emotions eventually soured my experience entirely, and as I got closer to the end I just wanted it all to be over. Numerous bugs and glitches, frustrating gameplay and fragmented storytelling dragged the whole game down from what at times showed the potential to be a good time. I’m not sure someone who isn’t a fan of the series would care enough about the Tintin brand to overlook all the rough edges, and even as a devoted series fan it is a tough pill to swallow. My only hope is that Pendulo and Microids take the criticism to heart, focusing more on what they do best if there's to be a sequel hinted at in the end scene.

• PC
• 65%
• États-Unis

You’d better have a good memory if you don’t want to spend hours reading through long blocks of text over and over again in Chronique des Silencieux, searching for that one piece of information that just might connect to or contradict another. The good news is that it’s all presented in a beautiful, evocative period setting with interesting characters, providing enough motivation to keep digging into their backgrounds. Sadly, the occasional graphical glitch, faulty translation and overly demanding deduction requirements make the gameplay experience much harder than it should be. Pierre Feuille Studio has the right idea and introduces a great concept for detective games, but they should have tested and polished it up further before releasing. To their credit, during my 14-hour playthrough they released several updates that gradually improved certain issues, making the third part of the game smoother than the first two. It still wasn’t perfect, but it’s moving in the right direction, so here’s hoping it will get there so more people can enjoy the intriguing elements lurking beneath the surface.

• PS5
• 83%
• États-Unis

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft is an imperfect update but a tremendous package overall, offering a satisfying mix of exploration, puzzle solving and action with enough content to keep you occupied for dozens of hours. While most of the puzzles won’t stall hardcore adventure fans for long, they are nevertheless well-designed and the games encourage exploring to find all the hidden secrets – a formidable challenge for even the experienced gamer. The series looks better than ever with a graphical overhaul, but they’re still clearly old games reskinned rather than brand new AAA games released today. The new control scheme will be embraced by those who found the original mechanics too cumbersome, and yet doing some of the games’ more precise platforming segments may not be as intuitive as before. For longtime series fans, this collection is ultimately singing to the choir – prettier and more flexible, but perhaps without enough significant benefit to make them necessary. But you get three full games and all related expansions in one bundle, with enough options between new and old iterations to cater to any player’s preference. So if you’re missing any games from your collection, or are a fan of the later Tomb Raiders and wondering how it all started, this is an absolute must buy.

• PS5
• 67%
• États-Unis

When it comes to adventure games, “old-fashioned” can be a nice way of saying unforgiving and outdated, and in many ways that suits Desolatium but I can genuinely say that I enjoyed most of my time playing it. Even with some rough edges, its playability makes it an easy game to recommend, though only fans of this node-based, point-and-click horror subgenre are likely to find any joy in its bizarre pleasures. Desolatium was crowdfunded through Kickstarter, and it certainly feels like one, being aimed at a very specific audience. It’s not for everyone, but it isn’t supposed to be, so you may want to try out the free standalone prologue for a taste of what to expect. If this style of pixel-hunting, pre-rendered horror appeals to you, Desolatium should be worth investigating.