The lockdowns and quarantines of 2020 gave many gamers the time necessary to dive into their backlog. But the year also brought many new releases, whose production must have begun long before players were stuck inside their homes. Therefore, players were able to enjoy a slew of new games, including some indie puzzle games that truly made the period pleasurable.
Exploration puzzle games invite players to dive deep into small environments the size of an encampment or even a single room to find clues and piece together mysteries to proceed. While 2020's indie puzzle games couldn't have known the environment they would be published in, it turns out that lockdown provided the ideal context to find joy in focusing on beautifully-rendered details. Here's a look at three of the standout puzzle games from last year.
Early 2020 saw the release of Luna: The Shadow Dust, the first game from small creative developers Lantern Studio. The game tells the story of a young boy trying to restore light to his world. Players control the boy and his animal companion as they climb up an oppressively large tower -- each floor is its own puzzle level, and progress is blocked until players can figure out a way to unlock the door.
What sets Luna: The Shadow Dust apart is how it plays with light and shadow, often turning them into tangible, interactable objects necessary to escape. The result is a beautiful chiaroscuro to complement the hand-drawn, dreamlike environments. The world of Luna is not only beautiful to dive into, but the narrative of restoring light feels weighty and important. As players focus on the micro-level of each of the tower's floors, the impact of their actions ripples up. Luna is not only beautiful to play, but it feels hopeful, as if players can truly bring about change with even small actions.
The Fall brought players When the Past Was Around and a way of looking at and processing grief in this non-linear, surreal world. Players relive the memories of a young woman who is heartbroken at the loss of her owl-man lover. Time seems to flow more freely than customary and space less stationary, allowing players to step from a café into a beach into a firelit campsite, from the early days of a relationship to the very bitter end.
When the Past Was Around's unique storytelling is done entirely through visuals, drawing players into the narrative importance of small actions like stirring tea or finding constellations in the stars. The game relies on exploring small spaces to uncover the tools needed to progress, which allows players to truly live in the spaces that the game creates, providing an escape while also crafting an immersive experience.
Call of the Sea was released in the Winter of 2020, bringing players to a Polynesian island's lush worlds only to insert Lovecraftian themes. As players investigate what happened to their husband's exploration party, they dive further into their own history, uncovering deeper mysteries.
The narrative of a woman protagonist coming to the rescue of her husband and ultimately deciding her own fate is powerful, but what sets Call of the Sea apart from other games is its tightly-knit, beautifully implemented puzzles. The game is reminiscent of Myst, with its empty island and inscrutable artifacts, making this game truly a delight to play.
Each of these indie games is drastically different -- both in aesthetic and in the stories they tell. Yet each game also feels necessary for the seemingly endless year 2020, helping players focus on their own agency, find the light in the dark and process all the grief the year brought. Their focus on small details to solve larger puzzles was a form of catharsis that was more important than their designers could have anticipated. 2020 turned out to be a phenomenal year for indie puzzle games, which benefitted players everywhere.
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