Adventure game fans rejoice!
Next week we will not be getting just one, but THREE spectacular looking new adventure game titles on iOS.
One is an original story from a pair of veterans in the point and click adventure game genre and the other two are titles from award-winning series.
All three are titles to get excited about!
Thimbleweed Park
Growing up, point and click adventure games were my jam. I played every Sierra Online and Lucas Arts game I could get my hands on. Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick (Day of the Tentacle) who worked together on Maniac Mansion, The Secret of Monkey Island and many many more were the duo responsible for a number of those amazing, formative experiences.
Now this dynamic duo is back with a retro-style point and click adventure game called Thimbleweed Park. Set in the late 80s, it follows a Twin Peaks-esque mystery adventure revolving around a dead body, a small town, a couple of federal agents (who look awfully familiar), a washed-up insult clown and a whole cast of offbeat characters.
I played a demo portion of this game two years ago at PAX East and I have been dying to play the full game ever since. Gilbert and Winnick have done an amazing job at recapturing their old magic, filling the game with their unique brand of wit and intelligence and pop culture references while keeping and celebrating that retro feel. Needless to say, I am so excited that (after a successful launch on PC and consoles earlier this year) next week the game will finally be coming to iOS.
This is one you definitely don’t want to miss.
Releasing on Tuesday, September 19th.
The Journey Down Chapter 3
In late 2012 Skygoblin blew me away with the first chapter of their charming point and click adventure game trilogy, The Journey Down.
The series has a fresh Afro-Caribbean vibe and is set in a shady corner of Kingsport Bay, at the outskirts of St Armando. In the first chapter, we were introduced to Bwana and his trusted sidekick Kito as they struggled to make ends meet at their run-down gas station. When a mysterious woman comes into their lives they are catapulted into a crazy adventure in search of a lost journal to uncover the true fate of their long-lost father, Captain Kaonandodo.
The second chapter of the game released in 2014, continued the adventure. Now we will finally get the big conclusion in this third and final chapter of the story.
So far each chapter of the game has been really well produced with gorgeous animations, professional voice work and an engaging story and puzzles.
While I’m sad to see the series come to an end, I’m looking forward to seeing how Bwana and Kito’s crazy journey ends.
Releasing on Thursday, September 21st.
Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story
Accidental Queens, the creators of last year’s emotional and brave narrative adventure A Normal Lost Phone, will be releasing Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story – a spiritual successor to the studio’s debut title.
In this new story, players are tasked to find out what happened to Laura, a young woman who has vanished without a trace. Stumbling upon her lost phone, players need to try to piece together what happened to Laura by exploring the device to uncover crucial fragments of information and hidden passwords scattered among texts, apps, photos and social networks.
Like its spiritual predecessor, Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story, as different aspects of Laura’s troubled life are revealed, the story touches upon social themes not usually discussed in games.
While utilizing that same innovative, phone-style interface this game features a completely new story, with new puzzles and mysteries to solve.
I found A Normal Lost Phone to be quite a compelling little game not only due to its iPhone-style interface, but also with the emotional story and the almost voyeuristic and invasive nature of the fact that the player is reading deeply personal texts and messages obviously not meant for their eyes.
I’m curious to see how Accidental Queens are going play with our emotions again with Laura’s Story.
Releasing on Thursday, September 21st.
