Return to Grace (2023)
[game]
Another 2.5-hour adventure—my favorite genre.
You're a space archaeologist, looking for Grace—a godlike AI who once helped humanity end conflict and reach prosperity. But someone switched Grace off, plunging everyone into gloom. That happened 900 years ago; now it’s the year 3820. What a time to be alive.
The game kicks off when you land on yet another planet, but this one feels promising. Events rapidly unfold, and it seems like you’re finally about to uncover Grace's fate—maybe even chat with her...?
Gameplay-wise, it's basically a walking sim with straightforward puzzles. There's a bit of replayability thanks to three endings. Visually, it's gorgeous—you'll spend time just admiring retro-futuristic settings like wandering through a museum. There's even a clunky, bare-bones photo mode, which I ended up using way too often because I just couldn't resist capturing those interiors.
Narration is partly environmental, but mostly comes through dialogue. You have a device on your wrist to chat initially with your ship’s AI, and soon other AI companions show up—and holy shit, their dialogues and voice acting are phenomenal! These characters constantly tease each other (and you), and they'll remind you of your own friends and family with their charming stubbornness, naivety, and occasional sass.
In short, it's heartwarming sci-fi done right. Extra proud it was made by folks right here in Ontario—and funded by a provincial grant, no less. Good stuff!