The article reviews the return of the team behind the acclaimed game Before Your Eyes with Goodnight Universe, a longer narrative adventure that uses webcam blinking mechanics to explore themes of childhood, family, and supernatural elements, though it struggles with focus and mechanical implementation.
Dispatch offers a unique twist on superhero stories by focusing on an office-based dispatcher managing a team of reformed villains, with a choice-driven narrative and high-quality animation, though it currently features limited interaction and consequences in its early episodes.
The Alters is a genre-blending sci-fi survival game that combines management, narrative, and resource juggling, set on a distant planet where the protagonist, Jan Dolski, must navigate isolation, decision-making, and psychological challenges to complete a high-stakes mission. It stands out for its focused design, emotional storytelling, and innovative gameplay mechanics, making it a potential sleeper hit in 2025.
The Steam Spring sale offers the Excellence in Narrative – IGF 2024 bundle, featuring five of 2023's best indie games at nearly 50% off, costing $45.94 until March 21. The games include The Wreck, A Highland Song, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, Venba, and Mediterranea Inferno, each offering unique narrative experiences ranging from emotional gut punches to immersive storytelling, making it a worthwhile purchase for gaming enthusiasts.
Saltsea Chronicles is a narrative adventure game that takes a different approach to exploration by focusing on community and cultural understanding rather than plundering resources. Players direct a collective of characters who carefully approach each island's unique culture, filling out an almanac of stickers to memorialize their journey. The game explores weighty social and political questions through personal stories and conflicts between characters, touching on themes such as restorative justice, tourism, and exploitation. While the game's ambition to tackle multiple themes and perspectives can sometimes feel overwhelming, it offers a thoughtful and ambitious narrative experience.
"How Fish Is Made" is a free horror game on Steam that explores life-altering choices through a 40-minute narrative adventure. Players take on the role of a sardine navigating through a factory, faced with the decision of going up or down. The game delves into existential themes and prompts players to contemplate the consequences of their choices. Despite its crude graphics, the game leaves a lasting impact and encourages reflection on the nature of existence.
"The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood" is a queer, witchy deck builder game that offers a cozy and meditative experience. Players take on the role of Fortuna, a witch living in isolation on an asteroid, who summons a cosmic being and enters into a contract. The game features a unique deck-building mechanic where players create or destroy cards to make psychic predictions. With customizable components and choices that impact the narrative, the game encourages players to reflect on their desires, power, and community.
The Annapurna Interactive Showcase 2023 featured several game announcements for Xbox Game Pass, including Cocoon, Thirsty Suitors, Flock, Bounty Star, and Ghost Bike. These games offer a range of experiences, from turn-based battles and skateboarding to multiplayer co-op and narrative adventures. Additionally, a 3D narrative adventure game called TO A T, developed by Keita Takahashi and the uvula team, was also announced.
Steam users have until July 1st to download and keep the critically acclaimed narrative-adventure game, Tell Me Why, for free. Developed by DONTNOD Entertainment, the game follows twins with supernatural abilities as they unravel mysteries from their upbringing. With positive reviews praising its story and impactful choices, Tell Me Why is a must-play for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers can now play Need for Speed Unbound and The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales. Need for Speed Unbound is available on EA Play, allowing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play it on console, PC, and cloud. The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales is a narrative adventure game where players take on the role of a former writer who can enter book worlds to steal items.
Xbox Game Pass adds two new titles today: Need for Speed Unbound and The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales. Need for Speed Unbound is a racing game where players can customize their cars and compete in weekly qualifiers. The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales is a narrative adventure where players can dive into books and steal legendary items to restore their ability to write. Both games are available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play.
Detective Pikachu Returns, the narrative adventure game that transforms Pikachu into a gruff private investigator, is set to release on Nintendo Switch on October 6th, 2023. The game reunites Pikachu with his pal Tim Goodman, and the debut trailer promises hijinks. The original game came out worldwide in 2018, and the new installment is available to wishlist today.
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales, a narrative adventure game developed by DO MY BEST, is set to launch on Xbox Game Pass this week. Players take on the role of Etienne Quist, a writer-turned-thief with the ability to dive into books and steal legendary items. The game features unique worlds, unconventional puzzles, daring artifact heists, and various obstacles requiring players to persuade, deceive, or engage in combat.
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales, a narrative adventure game where players take on the role of a writer-turned-thief with the ability to dive into books, will be released on June 22 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The game features unique puzzles, the ability to explore different book worlds, and the opportunity to steal legendary items to restore the protagonist's ability to write.