Essentials
Top PicksArticles by Pascal Tekaia:
Here They Lie review
This PlayStation horror exclusive is rich in disturbing atmosphere, but honestly there's very little gameplay or comprehensible story resting deep within it.
Jake Hunter Detective Story: Ghost of the Dusk review
The visual novel series from Japan is back with a new mystery anthology, but even the pretense of gameplay is found lacking this time around.
OneShot review
This modestly designed, experimental persistent world adventure will blow you away in breaking the barrier between player and protagonist.
Without Escape review
This short room-escape adventure rarely gets past its uninspired find-the-key formula that ultimately leads nowhere in particular.
Shiver review
It's far from cozy, but this ultra-short slideshow horror adventure delivers disappointingly few chills.
The Cabinets of Doctor Arcana review
This unapologetically old-school puzzler is stuffed full of familiar challenges and gothic atmosphere, but very little creativity manages to spill out.
Blind review
Its haunting atmosphere and echolocation-based mechanics make it worth seeing this VR exclusive through its few missteps in the dark.
The Gardens Between review
This short but lovely time-bending puzzler celebrates the friendship of children as it spirals ever onwards and upwards to a touching finish.
State of Mind review
We're left feeling ambivalent about the transhumanist sci-fi adventure that hinders fascinating themes with an unfocused story, and a unique presentation with underwhelming gameplay.
The Initiate review
A promising new puzzle series gets started by substantially expanding the Escape Room formula to an entire suburban home.
Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption review
The Quest for Glory creators are back, showing they're still at the head of the class for classic-styled adventure-RPG hybrids.
The Invisible Hours review
Gameplay is nowhere to be seen, but this voyeuristic whodunit provides a compelling murder mystery in the style of immersive theater.
E3 2018 round-up
The adventure spirit was alive and well in Los Angeles, and here is the story of this year's convention.
Stonewall Penitentiary review
Although trapped inside a dated presentation, this prison-based whodunit provides a compelling psychological mystery.
STAY review
Come for the thrilling remote-access mystery, stick around for the challenging puzzles and thought-provoking story that plays out in real time.
