Unavowed

Introducing myself to Wadjet Eye Games through [b]Unavowed[/b] felt like a wonderful discovery I didn't know I needed. I consider myself fairly casual when it comes to adventure games, having mostly played classics from the genre's golden age in the 1990s before drifting away as the industry moved on. Thankfully, indie developers have kept the genre alive, and I'm grateful some acquaintances from a gaming community introduced me to this gem. You ever discover something that feels like exactly the right time? That's more or less how I feel after finishing Unavowed. Over the years, I've grown to appreciate games where character development carries just as much weight as the main plot. If someone asked me what the soul of Unavowed is, I'd answer without hesitation: it's the Unavowed themselves. The companions your protagonist joins are memorable and effortlessly likable. Their personalities shine through a combination of slow-burn character dynamics, shared history, and excellent voice acting. Early on I thought some of their banter leaned a little corny, but honestly, that's part of what made them feel genuine. Any real friend group is allowed to be a little cringe, sometimes. What really surprised me as the story unfolded was how much the cast reminded me of some of my favorite JRPGs. I understand the game's goal is to capture the feeling of a classic tabletop RPG, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I was watching one of those wonderful ensemble casts of complicated goofballs banding together to confront impossible odds. Some readers might wince at the comparison, but I mean it as the highest compliment. Unavowed gave me the same satisfaction I get from a character-driven JRPG—just without the dozens of hours of filler. Whether that resonates with you will naturally depend on your own tastes. The presentation is consistently simple yet captivating. Every new location was a pleasure to explore thanks to its beautiful hand-drawn scenery. While the soundtrack occasionally missed the emotional tone I was expecting, the tracks that did land more than made up for it. I also can't overstate how important the voice acting is to this experience. Many of the game's most emotional moments are elevated by genuinely excellent performances. I especially appreciated that the end credits showcased the actors alongside their roles—it gave me the impression that Dave Gilbert wanted to celebrate the people who helped bring these characters to life, and I found that genuinely touching. I deliberately avoided discussing the plot because I think this is a game that's best experienced with as few expectations as possible. If I've convinced you that Unavowed excels at character writing and performances, then I'd encourage you to discover the rest for yourself. There are several moments that are far more rewarding if you don't see them coming. This was an absolutely wonderful game, and I look forward to exploring more of Wadjet Eye Games' catalogue.

One of the better point and click adventures out there. The voice acting is top notch and is really the star of the game. The puzzles are not overly difficult, I like that you're not juggling 20+ items in your inventory to find the obscure item to progress the game. The story while it takes a little while to get going to truly understand what is going on, the character build up is excellent. Length is right around 10-11 hours with replay options if you want to complete all achievements or see what different actions in some instances have on the story as a whole. From an old school Lucas Arts fan who grew up with Maniac Mansion & Zak McKracken, I can certainly recommend this title.

a really lovely narrative game. played the whole thing through, and poked around a little to see some of the other branches. the setting is easy to get into, the characters are endearing and deep, the plots of the missions are interesting, and the overall plot is exciting. has some excellent twists. the adventure game puzzles are unobtrusive and sometimes interesting, the art is expressive and personal, and the whole conceit just works. i wish there was more! which is a good feeling to end on.