At first, the limited gameplay and simple, almost unchanging graphics didn't quite scratch the exploring alien planet itch I was hoping it would. The game withholds the visual aspects of these wonderful ecosystems it describes, using only descriptive language to evoke the environments. After an hour or so, however, I found that collecting samples would unlock more biological information about the creatures, and if you completed them all, you would be able to view a sketch, and finally see the creatures you'd been imagining for so long visually realized. It's an amazing reward system, and I obsessively collected the samples, truly feeling like a scientist and an explorer. The music and the writing is beautiful, and the ending made me tear up a little bit.

Essentially a very cleverly disguised visual novel, though I worry that description isn't giving it enough credit. Imagine Subnautica played entirely on a topographical map, with a heavy dose of climate anxiety and Jeff VanderMeer/China Mieville-esque sci-fi. If the perspective sounds restrictive, don't worry; any doubts have will melt away as soon as you lose yourself in the writing and visuals. The sound design is excellent as well. I could nitpick but it's not worth it in the face of something so unique.

A pleasant exercise in minimalism to tell a characterful story in a vibrant world you can only visualise through dots and lines on a radar. Told entirely through a UI styled after a small handful of deep sea equipment, it does wonderfully atmospheric work with its evocative use of seabed imaging and ambient sound design. The narrative itself is fairly rote, but told through a lens so new to me I couldn't help but be enthralled to the end.

Come the midpoint of the game, I found my play cycle and just coasted to the finale with little to no obstruction. Something about how this and games like Killer7 throw an abstract control scheme onto your lap - then expect you to figure it out on your own, is great to me. When it clicks, it's always pretty special.

I dunno, pretty short but really interesting. I enjoyed my time with it, and lament that I don't have much more to spare. I'd love to get all the collectables, would be zen as hell.