Adventure Game Hotspot

• PC
• 77%
• États-Unis

Like its two playable characters often do, Song of Nunu is content to slide along the surface of its various gameplay elements, never really becoming as deep or engaging as it could. But its accessibility and low level of difficulty are partly what make it a suitable entry point for fans not used to this much running, jumping and even the occasional fighting in their puzzle-filled adventure games. It’s meant to be for everyone, regardless of age or adeptness with these types of experiences. There’s plenty of variety to keep things breezy and fresh, the protagonists have a wonderful dynamic that will surely have you rooting for them to persevere, and there’s enough of a tragedy-tinged narrative underpinning the otherwise whimsically cartoony presentation to keep you motivated to reach the end. Whether you’re a League of Legends diehard or a complete newbie to the frozen Freljord and its world of champions, you’ll find much to enjoy in a game that not only looks and sounds great, but has loads of heart at its core.

• PC
• 73%
• États-Unis

I’m really glad I played Jusant. It’s so different than other games that I really looked forward to it, and for the most part I rather enjoyed my time scaling its steep heights. My biggest disappointment is that greatness was within its grasp but – as happened far too often to me on my way up – the designers let it slip through their fingers. More forgiving controls, clearer direction, and a more organic approach to storytelling would have better complemented such a gorgeous world to explore. Nevertheless, the change in perspective adds a welcome new angle – literally – and the “action” element isn’t overly demanding, feeling like a giant environmental puzzle to be solved with a bit more physical exertion than normal, rather than a high-octane race to the top requiring fast reflexes. Throw in a cuddly sidekick (be sure to give him some attention!), some intriguing background lore of a bygone civilization, and a few new gameplay elements along the way, and Jusant’s strengths are more than enough to help it rise above its limitations. It may not be perfect, but it’s one of the increasingly rare games that emphasize gameplay above all else, so it’s a definitely step in the right direction. Onward and upward, Don’t Nod!

• PC
• 93%
• États-Unis

And it’s one hell of a game. None of which is to say that Slay the Princess fails to stick the landing—or landings, in this case, as there’s naturally more than one. As with everything else, the decisions you made affect where you end up, though you still have enough freedom to finally shape what exactly that looks like. Whatever happens, you’ll finish the game secure in the knowledge that you haven’t seen anywhere close to all it has to offer. You’ll likely be tempted, as I was, to dive right back in again and start it over. It’s full of horrors, yes, and violence, and the near certainty of failure, but in its boundless creativity, in the multifariousness of its narrative and its characters, and in its unflinching commitment to exploring the fullness of possibility, Slay the Princess is, more than anything, a cry of joy and wonder at the staggering beauty of not knowing what comes next.

• PC
• 68%
• États-Unis

The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo is a short game – it took me just under two hours to complete with only a single peek at the hint book. The first half was quite enjoyable, but eventually it became clear why Mr. Rodriguez himself was dissatisfied with the final product, as the second half makes even this relative brevity drag, until I longed to be back playing the beginning with its bold animations and uniquely weird situations and characters. There are certainly things to appreciate here, but the best of them are always in how The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo looks rather than how it plays. The story ends on a cliffhanger, so let's hope that any future endeavour will itself be able to pick up the pieces and create something in the spirit of the original, just with more refined mechanics as its creator always intended.

• PC
• 85%
• États-Unis

There’s limited freedom to roam in Killer Frequency, and not much to being a DJ, but the variety of gameplay kept me entertained and being an interim 911 operator sure is exciting, whether I played the hero or villain. Lives are very much at stake, but the great part is, you don’t need any action game experience to succeed. This is a more passive survival horror experience perfect for those who don’t like blood and gore, where all it takes is your brain and the ability to see solutions in all the clues provided. Every caller brings new elements that pose a challenge, but without being overly difficult. And even though you don’t see – or perhaps because you can’t see – what’s happening to the people in your care, there’s still a great buildup of tension. And it’s equally fun no matter which mindset you choose: being the grand savior is very rewarding and satisfying, but intentionally screwing up is just too tempting not to give it a go. I highly recommend it even to those who can’t bear to watch a horror movie – it’s perfect for a home-alone, late-night gaming session with the lights off and a bowl of popcorn at hand.

• PS5
• 84%
• États-Unis

Having played and loved Quantic Dream’s previous games, I very much enjoyed their first foray into third-party publishing. Under the Waves is a smaller production, but it took me on a journey into the abyss, both literally and figuratively. With stunning deep-sea settings, gameplay that kept me captivated, and a truly amazing soundtrack, I had no problems losing myself in the game for hours on end. Despite being very light on actual puzzles, and having a couple of lost opportunities to explore some subplots further, I was truly moved by this beautiful game, and left feeling all the more aware of its powerful and important message about how we treat our planet.

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

I enjoyed my time at Fort Solis, nosing through its living quarters and following a carefully laid trail of narrative clues through its facilities. In many ways the game brings its A-game when it comes to presentation, with impressive graphics and animation, as well as a formidable voice cast. But I think in the end it lacks enough emotional punch to stand among the very best sci-fi thrillers. I’m not so jaded (I don’t think!) that I can’t enjoy a less harrowing experience for what it is, but for a game that presents as a thriller, a bit more actual peril and distress would have felt appropriate. In the end, Fort Solis is content to be a less stressful stroll through a deserted setting, an enjoyable mystery set in an inhospitable environment. As such, it may be just the ticket for those looking to hop aboard a quick interplanetary jaunt and unravel a hazardous yarn set amongst the stars.

• PC
• 80%
• États-Unis

Return to Grace is an entertaining exploration of an inviting futuristic space habitat. The various AIs who chat with Adie and each other turn what would otherwise be a simple roam through empty rooms and corridors into a delightful journey with mostly pleasant company (Control’s demands for dominance over humanity aside). The sights and sounds are quite evocative, and the low-difficulty puzzles – which can even be bypassed entirely with the help of Jack – ensure that proceedings keep moving briskly. Sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, sometimes thought-provoking but always fun, Return to Grace doesn’t provide much challenge or delve into its themes very deeply, but it’s a fine way to explore some of the questions around artificial intelligence through the lens of science fiction rather than the reality of contemporary society.

• PC
• 74%
• États-Unis

The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales provides an accurate snapshot of what to expect within its first few minutes, yet it continues to dish up moments of discovery and surprise throughout. Performing illegal heists by delving into literary works is a thought-provoking conceit, and there are enough such chapters set in new and outlandish worlds to provide a constant thrill of excitement as events unfold. The mechanics – whether point-and-click or turn-based combat – aren’t difficult and should provide a low barrier of entry even for players not accustomed to RPGs. Most importantly, the characters and their interactions and moral dilemmas are just as intriguing as the varied worlds we get to explore, as well as being laugh-out-loud funny at times. Though the ending wasn’t quite satisfying enough for my liking, it’s a well-made and somber tale that deftly engages the darker side of imagination.

• PC
• 68%
• États-Unis

Fans of the original Oxenfree should largely enjoy the bigger, longer sequel, with the caveat that more isn’t always better. I preferred the older, more mature characters this time around, and once again the writing and production values are excellent for the most part. A (very little) bit of expanded gameplay is welcome, while the complexity of weaving two stories together ends up feeling too convoluted for its own good. While you could easily skip the first game if you wish, you’d probably get more out of this one if you don’t. And since the tighter, leaner original is marginally better than the sequel, there’s really no reason not to start there anyway. The novelty is missing the second time around, but if you’re all about story, exploration and characters, you’ll likely find that both Oxenfree and Lost Signals are worth picking up.

• PC
• 35%
• États-Unis

There is some value here for those with the patience to play the game over and over again, and puzzle fans may enjoy some of the gameplay on offer. Ultimately, however, Amanda the Adventurer squanders most of its evident potential as an example of the analog horror genre by being too obtuse for its own good. Even with some excellent voice acting and high production values for an indie game, its underwhelming horror elements, an incoherent mishmash of backstory bits that raise questions but provide no answers, and the need to replay repeatedly to see everything crushes the initially effective spooky atmosphere and any real motivation to actually do so.

• PC
• 75%
• États-Unis

I hesitate to recommend Resurgence to non-Star Trek fans. So much of my enjoyment came from losing myself in a universe I carry a deep love and nostalgia for. While the complex story holds its own and would be a worthy entry into the official canon, the script itself is a bit low on pathos. A really good episode of Trek would leave me laughing or crying or feeling deeply philosophical about human nature. There are definite attempts to reach those heights here as well, but the story beats don’t always land. So unless you’re a huge fan of sci-fi and/or solving problems via diplomacy, you may find yourself less enthralled without prior familiarity with this universe. That said, the atmosphere and story-building are impressive by any measure, and for existing fans this should be a no-brainer. If you’ve been patiently and agonizingly waiting three decades for a Trek adventure game, Resurgence is sure to have you beaming.

• 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.