Dungeons of Hinterberg

Take a Persona game, swap the high school angst for millennial corporate burnout, move it to the Alps, and compress it so it doesn't take 100 hours to beat. Then throw in some Zelda puzzles, a little Super Mario Galaxy, and a late-game bullet hell where twenty enemies snipe you while you try to dodge poison circles. Hinterberg is basically several genres wearing an extremely stylish Austrian trench coat. Not all of them fit perfectly, but the whole thing has undeniable charm. The dungeons hard carry the game, each one finding new ways to use your abilities. The social aspect is a bit weaker. The town and its people are charming, but the storylines stay so surface level that I spent my ingame evenings wishing I was back in a dungeon. Combat is the biggest letdown. Regular encounters grow repetitive, and spotting one of those painfully obvious combat arenas ahead starts to feel like your fun is being put on hold. Shout out to the boss fights, though! These have actual mechanics and offer a welcome break. Since this is a game about taking a vacation, treat it like one. Binge it, and I can see it getting a little stale. But pace it like an actual vacation (a dungeon or two a day), and it holds up well.

This game is so peak. The art style is incredible, and you get so many upgrades and skills. The storyline is very cute, and there is so much to do. Easily one of the best games I've played this year for sure.

Escapism in video games is a theme that is often explored, but rarely executed this well. That was my first impression, and it hooked me from the very beginning. The gameplay stays fresh throughout the game. Each dungeon introduces different mechanics, and every region offers its own unique approach to exploration and puzle solving, making it consistently engaging. I personally enjoyed the art style, which also helps giving the game a unique identity. (Even though some scenes can appear slightly blurry when standing still) As an added bonus, the game's fictional village is located on one of my favorite real-world travel destinations, just as a plus :)