This is, without a doubt, the best novel I have ever watched via a keyboard and mouse. There, I said it.

By that... yeah, I basically mean "this is beautiful, it is artistic, it is fun, it is engaging as ♥♥♥♥. It is also not a game." DO NOT walk in with an expectation of a game. Walk in with an expectation of an EXPERIENCE, one you will almost certainly love and one that will leave you just a little sad when it's over and you want more.

The story is, if I'm honest, wonderful "in its own way". The conclusion is not... thrilling? I kind of wish I had more of the ending, as this one felt like it ended right in the middle of the ending - it will make sense when you... play? Read it yourself.

It has big "ABZU" vibes and feels like all the best parts of walking sims (a genre I really enjoy, personally) without the guff. I think that, if you enjoy the freedom of exploration, the sense that you're not totally sure what the story is but are moving in the right direction, and the fun of flying racing drones at high speed without the anxiety of every crash costing you $125 in parts... then you will not only love this interactive novel but will probably come back to it over and over as a stress-reliever.

Personally, I have this game on Switch and I think that is a very close second-place to having this on desktop. The Switch is just a liiiitttle compromising on graphics whereas having this on a computer allows it to max everything out. I can imagine it would be a true JOY on the Steam Deck.

Playing with controllers is probably advised, but I personally had enormous fun with a M&K. I'm not very good at using controllers as I didn't grow up with them, so I personally prefer M&K for this and I never experienced issues with the controls (though I did have to set the "Invert Y Axis In Bird Form" to off, as it is on by default).

If you like ABZU, you will love this. If you like interactive novels, you will love this. If you crave violence and blood and combat and think a game is worthless without them... not so much, this has zero combat and is purely about the joy of flight and the freedom to make your own way in a world with no true guidance.

Also, the Lighthouse is closer than you think. If you're looking down at a big blue lake or a giant-ass tree, you've gone too far, turn around and go back to Settlement and look for the Lighthouse again. I stg every time I play this game I get lost for the first 10 minutes, and I've played it like 5 times...

This is, without a doubt, the best novel I have ever watched via a keyboard and mouse. There, I said it. By that... yeah, I basically mean "this is beautiful, it is artistic, it is fun, it is engaging as shit. It is also not a game." DO NOT walk in with an expectation of a game. Walk in with an expectation of an EXPERIENCE, one you will almost certainly love and one that will leave you just a little sad when it's over and you want more. The story is, if I'm honest, wonderful "in its own way". The conclusion is not... thrilling? I kind of wish I had more of the ending, as this one felt like it ended right in the middle of the ending - it will make sense when you... play? Read it yourself. It has big "ABZU" vibes and feels like all the best parts of walking sims (a genre I really enjoy, personally) without the guff. I think that, if you enjoy the freedom of exploration, the sense that you're not totally sure what the story is but are moving in the right direction, and the fun of flying racing drones at high speed without the anxiety of every crash costing you $125 in parts... then you will not only love this interactive novel but will probably come back to it over and over as a stress-reliever. Personally, I have this game on Switch and I think that is a very close second-place to having this on desktop. The Switch is just a liiiitttle compromising on graphics whereas having this on a computer allows it to max everything out. I can imagine it would be a true JOY on the Steam Deck. Playing with controllers is probably advised, but I personally had enormous fun with a M&K. I'm not very good at using controllers as I didn't grow up with them, so I personally prefer M&K for this and I never experienced issues with the controls (though I did have to set the "Invert Y Axis In Bird Form" to off, as it is on by default). If you like ABZU, you will love this. If you like interactive novels, you will love this. If you crave violence and blood and combat and think a game is worthless without them... not so much, this has zero combat and is purely about the joy of flight and the freedom to make your own way in a world with no true guidance. Also, the Lighthouse is closer than you think. If you're looking down at a big blue lake or a giant-ass tree, you've gone too far, turn around and go back to Settlement and look for the Lighthouse again. I stg every time I play this game I get lost for the first 10 minutes, and I've played it like 5 times...