Trail of the Wretched

Trail of the Wretched is a compact and unusually grim visual novel that takes the familiar imagery of the Old West and reshapes it into something more surreal, psychological, and unsettling. Developed and published by Xavier Bell, the game places you in the role of a photographer arriving by boat in a fictional New World. Rather than becoming a heroic gunslinger or fearless outlaw, your purpose is seemingly simple: travel across this unfamiliar continent and document what you discover. Naturally, the assignment becomes considerably more dangerous and bizarre than taking a few photographs. The setting is arguably the game's strongest feature. This version of the frontier is filled with scattered settlements, enormous stretches of wilderness, criminals, suspicious strangers, and disturbing situations. Civilization never seems completely trustworthy, while venturing beyond it carries dangers of its own. The protagonist consequently feels vulnerable throughout the journey. Being a photographer instead of an experienced fighter strengthens that sensation because you are essentially an outsider observing a brutal world that operates according to rules you barely understand. Gameplay pr…

This is great. A compelling story with interesting characters in an interesting world.

Absolutely dark and gut-wrenching. Makes you feel very invested, helpless and like you're actually there in the area where it all plays out. A short but lovely story with classic Xavier Bell-tones. I had a very good and cozy time with this.

Bleak and sparse, but both in service of an intriguing short narrative. Highly recommend.

It's great but stay very far away if you are not into the flavor. That flavor being there is no pure love but there is pure evil and that evil most of the time wins - because most people are too stupid and lazy to understand and fixing things is more work than they want to do. That level of work being zero. I'm going to go lie down now and never play or read anything by this dev again. But it's great.

Trail of the Wretched is an enjoyable visual novel. It's a linear story with the opportunity to make some snarky conversation choices. You might even get to say something profound.