Gorogoa

Gorogoa

Another unique incredible gaming experience. This is a visual puzzle game and nothing more. You must help you character collect 5 pieces of fruit. During your collage journey you will find a hidden, non-verbal storyline. I will let you reflect on it on your own rather than my telling you what I think it meant, but I really liked the backdrop of it all especially at the end.

The game has your screen split into 4 corners. Each corner can have its own images. You can zoom into things, or move the screen around to find object to click on or matching scenes to allow your character to walk from one image to the other. The way the game works is a unique gameplay gimmick and I feel that it was absolutely done the most brilliant way it can ever be done. The devs who made this are true artists in the sense that their imagination took over entirely to create a world within a world within a world where eventually you could find things that match and try to make it come together to help you move on to the next scene.

Real player with 4.8 hrs in game


Read More: Best Hand-drawn Beautiful Games.


Gorogoa, interesting name, even more interesting game. A buddy of mine at work who is a fellow programmer came over to me and said I have to check out “Gorogoa”. At the time I had no clue what it was and didn’t even know how to spell it. We had talked extensively about Zachtronic games and games that are like programming as well as Cookie Clicker, so I was confused. Later that day I walked by and I saw him playing it.

He was moving tiles around a whiteboard and the tiles were gorgeous, but the thing that enraptured me was how the tiles were able to connect. I went back to my desk and picked up the bundle on Steam with Edith Finch as I was looking forward to playing both games. I was not disappointed in the least with either purchase.

Real player with 4.3 hrs in game

Gorogoa on Steam

Creaks

Creaks

I didn’t know what to expect from this game. While the developer always has outstanding graphics and audio, some of the reviewers were unkind as to the storyline/gameplay. I purchased it anyway as I have always liked Amanita games. I was not disappointed.

The game’s graphics, while dark and subdued, were beautifully rendered and lent the right tone to the story. The music was lovely and not overpowering and sound effects did not distract from gameplay. As to gameplay, I would describe it as Amanita version of the first “Rooms” game but with a better story, graphics, and gameplay. Yes, the basic play is to escape from chambers (rooms) as you move through this fantasy world. This type of gameplay has intermittent breaks when you get a periodically come across some artwork pieces that have their own puzzles to solve. As your character makes his way through this world, you gradually realize the plot and the nature of the characters you find. The puzzles are challenging and never boring. It’s not a violent game but gentle with a satisfactory ending. I’m very tired of games that leave me in limbo waiting for a subsequent games to purchase in order to determine the fate of my character only to find out my doom is my inevitable future with no chance of salvation. I’m sorry; I need a little hope right now. If developers have the power to create a world and story for others to enjoy, why not create one that inspires and doesn’t depress. Amanita games leave me inspired. I hope to see more from them. A sequel to this game would be welcome.

Real player with 30.2 hrs in game


Read More: Best Hand-drawn Surreal Games.


Beautiful game by the Amanita Team. I’ve been following their games for years and i’ve finally got to properly play one of them and it couldn’t be better!!!

This game features a very charming, very dark and very grotesque art style that it only gets better as you go along.

It has a sort of “Kafka” vibe to it: The story of the game starts with our main character staying on his room, looking bored with life, until one sudden unexpected movement makes a crack on the wall, leaving some strange marks, upon inspection we found the entrance to an subterranean passage which leads into the origin of these tremors…. and a whole cast of strange beings which live in the earth below…. passage upon passage upon passage, its laberintical, babilon like, almost. The journey starts very slow and even monotone much… but soon you will find your way through different places, sometimes rooms, sometimes a cave…. the atmosphere starts to change, the colors follow suite and there will be plenty of variety (graphically speaking).

Real player with 13.7 hrs in game

Creaks on Steam

Puzzle Challengers

Puzzle Challengers

It is a collection of “Mini-games” with simple and colorful anime style graphics.

You can choose from 3 mini-games:

1 Falling shapes

2 Swap attacks

3 Slide portraits

PLAYABLE

From the “Menu” you can choose whether to play in “Campaign” or “Free mode” mode, the options do not exist so you can not change anything.

Whether you choose Campaign or Free , once you start the game you can no longer go back to change games , even if you crush “ESC” you have to continue until the words “Game over” come out

Real player with 4.2 hrs in game


Read More: Best Hand-drawn Logic Games.


Stars received: 1.7/10 _ Note: v.5 [0.0 to 1] = personal impressions

[0.3] Controls & Training & Help

[0.1] Menu & Settings

[0.2] Sound & Music

[0.2] Graphics

[0.2] Game Design

[0.1] Game Story

[0.4] Game Content

[0.2] Completion time (level/game)?

[0] is it Enjoyable & Fun?

[0] Could it hold a spot in Favorites? (& if the Game can be repeatedly played again)

[0] BONUS point: Multi-Player related

[0] BONUS point: Review for VR

[N] - if Registration is required with providing PII

Game description key-points: game with few puzzles, bad design

Real player with 4.2 hrs in game

Puzzle Challengers on Steam

Arctictopia

Arctictopia

Arctictopia is a puzzle-solving game in the Arctic Ocean. Figure out routes and plan your moves to help mama polar bear find her cub on the melting ice.

As the ice sheets melt away, the polar bears' route home becomes even more treacherous…

Features

  • 10 unique mechanics woven into 150 intriguing levels.

  • Immerse yourself in a hand-drawn, picture book-styled (but frigid!) North Pole and as you cross the Arctic Ocean.

  • Plan your every step carefully — with each move you make, the ice under your paws melts a bit.

  • Relax and take your time puzzle-solving. It’s easy to retrace your steps or try a different level. Chill and enjoy the challenge.

  • Adorable cub, seal and puffin.

Arctictopia on Steam

Middle Ages Jigsaw Puzzles

Middle Ages Jigsaw Puzzles

Middle Ages Jigsaw Puzzles - Do puzzles in a new puzzle way! Advanced puzzle layout and involving gameplay will help you to relax after a hard-working day. Middle Ages Jigsaw Puzzles is designed for adults.

  • 5 difficulty settings: Up to 280 pieces!

  • Every puzzle is unique: Different piece shapes every time!

  • Saves all puzzles in progress, so you can work on several at the same time.

  • 1080p HD Graphics.

  • Support multiple screen sizes.

Middle Ages Jigsaw Puzzles on Steam

Radius Hex: Ink Shapes

Radius Hex: Ink Shapes

Organize by rotating ink-filled stamps to form beautiful shapes,

When completing the puzzle the stamp is pressed on the paper, printing your watercolor painting!

Features:

  • 30 carefully designed levels;

  • Original soundtrack composed especially to help you relax;

  • Relaxing gameplay, perfect for those looking for casual puzzle;

  • Beautiful hand-drawn watercolor art.

Radius Hex: Ink Shapes on Steam

She Remembered Caterpillars

She Remembered Caterpillars

This is a puzzle game based on navigating little fungus people (gammies) to launch pads, so they can fly away. Getting there involves crossing caterpillar bridges and other obstacles. The gammies are marked by a colour and a shape, which dictates which obstacles they can cross. Using colours and shapes gives a backup for anyone who can’t use one or the other, which is helpful for colourblindness or not being able to see fine detail very well.

Progress through the game is split into acts, which slowly take the player higher up a structure. Each act has a distinctive art theme, which reflects the feel of the story at that point. I loved the style of the art. It’s hand drawn and whimsical, in a twisted fungal kind of way.

Real player with 10.4 hrs in game

She Remembered Caterpillars takes a simple colour matching formula and expands upon it as you progress. As the plot thickens and becomes more complex, so do the puzzles, and you’ll want to see the story through to the end–no matter how much you need to wrack your brains in order to complete the puzzle at hand.

This is one of those games that you have to take a moment to digest after you’ve completed it. I’m not entirely sure what happened in the 40 chapters that transpired, though I’m sure there are some passionate forum posts somewhere arguing symbolism and the like, but what I am sure is that it was a sweet story that featured the simple love of a parent and child.

Real player with 7.4 hrs in game

She Remembered Caterpillars on Steam

Teodoro

Teodoro

Beautiful sokoban puzzle game, aesthetically pleasing and very challenging.

Highly recommended.

Real player with 3.4 hrs in game

Teodoro is a Sokoban puzzle game featuring a cute cat as a mascot. The game provides a casual, fun, relaxing experience for the most part, but hides surprisingly difficult levels in the later game, that on the other hand are very rewarding to beat.

Real player with 3.2 hrs in game

Teodoro on Steam

The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2

The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2

This is a review of the full game

Artstyle

Unusual, intricate, sometimes strangely beautiful, sometimes downright weird (towards the end). The main protagonist is stop-motion animated clay, the backgrounds are all handcrafted from a variety of materials. It takes some getting used to but it really grew on me.

The music and sounds are very well done and enhance the atmosphere of the game. There’s no voice acting, you have to read the dialogue which sometimes is a bit tedious but on the whole is well written and not too long.

Real player with 27.6 hrs in game

Just add this to the list of things that prove that video games are art.

This game has some of the most intriguing, gorgeous, adorable (and in many instances disgusting) designs ever contructed. The art style is like if the film “Mirror Mask” were made into a game. And the plot is just as gorgeous and surreal. “The Dream Machine” is like the ultimate indie game.

You play as Victor Neff, a self-proclaimed “handsome” man, who has just moved into a strange new flat with his pregnant wife, but things get strange very quickly when your wife notices the landlord acting really weird. I will not spoil any of the plot. It is a game you must see to believe, but if you can believe it, there is in fact a Dream Machine in the game.

Real player with 25.8 hrs in game

The Dream Machine: Chapter 1 & 2 on Steam

31st prototype

31st prototype

Though the game was really short, I really appreciated playing it. The story, the puzzles and the art were really great and entertaining. I was invested in it and it was really fun.

The downsides were the wonky translations and the fact that I had a hard time to click into certain places (which was a minor issue) but besides that, it was all good!

Real player with 0.8 hrs in game

Neat little game, loved the sketch sytle.

Real player with 0.8 hrs in game

31st prototype on Steam