What it's about the premise, without spoilers
A boy wakes up in a dark forest, looking for his sister, and from there you take him from left to right through a world that gets stranger and more mechanical the further you go. That's it. There are no words, no menus to learn and almost no instructions. You move, jump, grab and push, and the rest you work out.
It's purely a puzzle game, and most of the puzzles are physical: push a box, swing from a chain, time a jump, work out what a switch does. It kills you often and quickly, and you try again a few steps back.
How I got into it my story with the game
I came across it on the Nintendo eShop because it was on a deal for around €2, when it normally costs €11.49. I vaguely remembered hearing about it somewhere, so I picked it up. I don't regret it at all.
It took me around six hours to finish, which is short, but it was well worth it.
How it looks art style and atmosphere
It can look low tech, but it's extremely detailed and very well made. Everything is black, white and grey, with film grain and fog that make the world soft and the shadows heavy. The boy is a small dark shape and his eyes are the only bright thing about him. Light matters a lot: a spotlight, a hazy sky, a dark pool you can't see into.
How it sounds music, sound effects and mood
There is no music, or barely any, and it's all about the sounds in the game. They're really good and really well made, and they put you right into the ambiance. The wind, your footsteps, the creak of wood and the hum of machinery do more than a soundtrack could, so headphones are the way to play it.
I get scared easily, so I got a couple of jump scares, but that's more me than the game. In general the game is fine on that front.
The story and the people characters and plot, spoiler-free
The boy is looking for his sister, but the story doesn't carry much weight, and there are hardly any characters. The game doesn't need them. It's all about the puzzles and the mood, and it never explains itself. If you want a plot you won't get one, and I didn't miss it.
After work: effort and challenge how much it asks of a tired brain
The effort is almost nothing. There are no systems to remember, no text and no tutorial, so you'll still know what to do after a month away.
The challenge is in the middle. Depending on you and your personality, it can be a chill game or a very frustrating one. The puzzles can look daunting, but they're just hard enough not to get frustrating, apart from the last few. Sometimes you're stuck for a while until it goes "oooh, right, of course", and that a-ha moment is really satisfying.
It's a great one for after work, because you can make a session as short as you like. You can play for a few minutes, solve a single puzzle and be done, or carry on and do more. I've also heard that some players give themselves extra challenges, like a no-death run or hunting for the eggs and secrets.
Docked vs handheld TV or in your hands, and my pick
I played all of it handheld, and it was perfect that way. The scenes are very dark, so a room with little glare helps, and it suits a short window with a single puzzle. I didn't try it docked, but a dim room and a TV should look great.
What gets in the way the real annoyances
- The last few puzzles get frustrating.
- It's short, around five to six hours, with little reason to replay unless you want a no-death run or the secrets.
- If you scare easily, expect a few jumps.
On Switch 2 what changes and what it costs
I'm not aware of a dedicated Switch 2 Edition, so you play the Switch game through backward compatibility. It sells for €11.49 normally and goes on sale often, so check your own eShop for the price in your country.
Verdict should you play it?
I was really pleased with this one. The puzzles are fun to solve, the a-ha moments are worth it, and the sound design is a treat. It's short, but it's worth every minute, and you can play it in small bites after work. Go for it.
