Penrose

Truly unforgivable for a game like this not to have any sort of autosave feature. All progress from my first session lost, because I didn't exit the game exactly the correct way.

how to write a visual novel without using Twine (and in a very inventive and interesting way)! Also, spooky, but like, pretty. The UI is very very clearly designed for a phone though.

This is a game with a very compelling alternate-timelines mechanic and an interesting hook and setting, but the ending didn't deliver on the abstract, intriguing elements the story set up. I enjoyed the writing style and would be genuinely interested in a second game with a more tangible, concrete story or one that delivers a more complete conclusion. I can't recommend this game's story, though, despite the excellent and unusual game mechanics.

I had first come in contact with doublespeak games' work several years ago through their previous game, A Dark Room (on Android at the time). I was immediately interested in the novelty of its (at first glance) seemingly minimalist approach, but at the same time I was captivated by Michael Townsend's writing style. I mention this because my first experience with this game was much the same: immaculate mystical vibes, experimental mechanics I haven't seen before, and an interesting minimalist approach. Penrose is, in essence, a time-travelling multiverse-spanning story about two kids looking into the disappearance of their mad scientist mother and in the process discovering much more than they bargained for. In this story you are an omniscient reader, able to jump between the perspectives of each character's major life events, and watch their life unfold. Naturally, the characters might not initially reach any interesting discovery. They might, for example, give up and abandon the search for their mother (or, well, die or lose their mind in the process). As such, the initial primary goal is to adjust the world around you and guide the characters through the mystery, and that is th…

Very cool game. However, I highly dislike the reading achievements. I also wish more people talked about this damn game! I feel the story could be talked about so much more.

Amazing, in-depth story that you never want to put down