Shout out for my least viewed review posts

Once in a while I check the popularity of the games I have reviewed on this blog. Here are a couple of games I feel deserve a bit more attention.

The Legend of Skye (2024 - Point & Pixel Adventures)

The SCUMM-style interface and some poorly clued objectives might not appeal to modern players used to easier games, but for old-school genre fans, The Legend of Skye provides a wonderful dose of nostalgia, transporting you back to the golden days of point-and-click classics. 

Enypnion Redreamed (2023 - Sinking Sheep)

Experienced adventurers can probably cruise through Enypnion ReDreamed in their sleep, though some of the logic puzzles might be responsible for a few nightmares. Overall, though, it’s a short but charming little journey through the subconscious that may just remind you of your own childhood nighttime fantasies.
 

This Bed We Made (2023 - Lowbirth Games)

This Bed We Made sacrifices some snooping freedom and player challenge for a more linear narrative, but there are plenty of thrilling discoveries to unpack in this compelling Hitchcockian mystery.   

INDIKA (2024 - Odd Meter)

INDIKA is an eclectic mix of graphic styles and gameplay about a young nineteenth-century Russian nun that will keep you glued to your seat with its challenging but mature reflection on faith and human morality. 

Sanya (2024 - helpnode) 

Sanya’s very simple gameplay won’t challenge anyone over the age of its young protagonist, but even for adults, this quaint, lovely side-scrolling adventure is like a nostalgic trip back to childhood.  

Twilight Oracle (2024 - Cosmic Void) 

Twilight Oracle is a nostalgic ride through a zany fantasy world, though even its witty banter can’t hide the fact it’s a short story with a simple plot only good for a single afternoon’s fun.

My Adventure Game Top Ten of 2024

Here are my top ten adventure games of 2024. This list is based on my personal enjoyment of all 32 games I've played this year - not all point 'n clicks, but one and all great narrative experiences!

10. The Phantom Fellows

If you like pixel art, crazy dialogues, and ghosts, The Phantom Fellows will provide you with some cool puzzles. It might get a bit TOO crazy now and then, but there's a clear love for adventure gaming oozing out of this paranormal detective agency.

9. INDIKA

INDIKA is an eclectic mix of graphic styles and gameplay about a young nineteenth-century Russian nun that will keep you glued to your seat with its challenging but mature reflection on faith and human morality.

8. Between Horizons

It may have a few minor malfunctions, but Between Horizons launches players on an exciting and branching interstellar detective journey, looking for clues, questioning suspects, and maybe saving the remnants of humanity in the process.

7. Closer the Distance

Gameplay is limited to choosing specific tasks to maintain character stats, but Closer the Distance features an intriguing concept of applying indirect influence, and is a beautifully written and very detailed simulation of life in a small community after tragedy has struck.

6. The Night Is Grey

With its beautiful scenery, heartfelt characters, and the weirdest wolves you’ve ever seen, The Night Is Grey is as close to a psychological thriller as an adventure game can get, worthy to be called an interactive cinematic experience.

5. Alone in the Dark

Wait a minute, isn't Alone in the Dark more of an action game? Survival horror, at least? Well, perhaps, but the exploration and puzzling aspects, coupled with a lower difficulty level, make this quite the gripping adventure game as well, as much as the original game ever was.

4. Thalassa: Edge of the Abyss

Like a Sherlock Holmes investigation at the bottom of the sea, there are many compelling secrets to be unveiled in the gorgeous underwater scenery of Thalassa’s titular sunken ship. 

3. Farewell North

Farewell North’s beautiful Scottish setting pulls you in with its canine star and cozy gameplay, then immerses you in a touching story about loss and letting go that’s well worth seeing through to the end.

2. The Crimson Diamond

The Crimson Diamond is a joy to play and very addictive; I had a hard time letting go of it, and I would have preferred to play it in one sitting. It's a great location, an interesting set of characters, a cool Agatha Christie style and gathering clues type of story.

1. PRIM

PRIM delves into the underworld and brings back the soul of classic point-and-click adventure games with an endearing creepy-cute story, loveable characters, fantastic production values and plenty of fun puzzling.

"INDIKA", my Adventure Game Hotspot review!

Read my full review on Adventure Game Hotspot!

Excerpt: 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!