The premise of this game (pilot a steam-powered vehicle and see the sights!) had me worried that the experience of actually playing it would be fairly dull, but I was glad to be proven wrong.

A big part of this is because piloting the vehicle doesn't just involve pushing the left stick forward. You have to manage your fuel resources, prevent the engine from overheating, and keep your foot on the gas - none of which is very difficult, but together they compose a pleasing rhythm. This is helped by some great sound design that makes the pushing of buttons and the blasting of steam all feel very tactile.

The game also knows how to switch up the pace to keep the experience fresh throughout. There'll be sections where you can unfurl your sails and let the wind push you forward, allowing you to sit back and take in the beautifully rendered vistas. Sometimes, you'll run into an obstacle that requires some puzzle-solving (nothing too difficult). And then there are the set pieces: moments when the camera pulls back and the music swells, and you get to marvel at how far the long-gone inhabitants of this world have fallen.

All this is packed into a two-hour runtime that some might consider short. But it was this shortness that helped maximize the impact of my journey, and I left the ruined expanse thoroughly satisfied.