The year has started off strong in many ways, with an incredible line-up of games set to release throughout 2022, a new handheld console on the way from Valve, and an exciting list of titles that are due to join Xbox Game Pass. One of the surprise recent additions to Microsoft’s subscription service wasGorogoa, a puzzle game published by Annapurna Interactive. Along withGorogoa, Xbox Game Pass treated players to two moregames from January 4 includingOlijaandThe Pedestrian. With confirmation that more games will be on their way soon, it seems like Microsoft is committed to boosting its popular subscription service with even more exciting content in the coming months.
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Getting To Grips With Gorogoa
Inspired in part by Byzantine art, creator and developer Jason Roberts brings a timeless and breathtakingly beautiful quality to the design ofGorogoa. Entirely hand-drawn, the game follows a young boy througha series of puzzlesas he navigates the gorgeous world of the game. Players are able to shift and slide four panels containing various images in an attempt to find matches in the complex and rich scenes. They can zoom in and out, scroll, stack, or layer tiles in an attempt to reveal the puzzle’s solution with a really interesting and unique mechanic.
There is no dialogue or linguistical hints for gamers to follow throughoutGorogoa– the story is conveyed entirely through visuals, and players must work out the approach and solution for each puzzle on their own. It’s challenging, but not in a way that causes frustration or prompts players to give up, which is the perfect balance for a puzzle game. The visual aspects and push for players to learn the mechanics for themselves are loosely reminiscent ofgames likeThe Witness, but luckilyGorogoadoesn’t cause quite as much head-scratching.
Gorogoaexplores themes of religion and spirituality, as the boy at the center of the storyseeks out a mythical creature. This otherworldly aspect is combined with more somber tones, as the game plays out through the 20th century and shows periods of peace, war, and the inevitable need to rebuild after conflict. The plot is simple but effective and draws players into the world of the game just like they delve deeper into the multi-layered visuals.
Why Players Should Give Gorogoa a Chance
Puzzle games have always been popular, with classics likePeggleand beloved series likeWarioWareproving their enduring appeal. But while there are lots of games available to players that feature familiar and undeniably comforting mechanics, it’s only once in a while that a puzzle game comes along that feels truly unique and pushes the genre into uncharted waters. When they do, it shows the gaming industry just how magical and special games can be, and what creatives are able to do with the medium that wouldn’t be possible anywhere else.
As well as being a stunning and completely original concept,Gorogoawon Debut Game at the BAFTA Games Awards when it was released, cementing it as a worthy member of the puzzle genrealongside previous BAFTA winners likePortal 2. For players looking for a more visual and less adrenaline-pumping gaming experience, this animated work of art is definitely worth a look. It’s imaginative, simple yet satisfying, and provides a beautiful antidote to the fast-paced and frenetic titles also on offer with Xbox Game Pass.
Gorogoais available now on Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
