Critique Three: Adventure Games

Our third and final critique exercises focuses on adventure games, broadly interpreted. The suggested games including walking simulators, “point and click” graphic adventures, visual novels, and many other sub-genres. I know this list can be overwhelming, but I encourage you to look at games you’ve purchased but haven’t had time to play (particularly from Humble Bundles and Steam sales) to see if one is on this list. You can also read reviews of many of these games at Adventure Gamers. I’ve tried to include a mix of exceptional titles from the past decade as well as very recent releases. There are several free or very cheap titles on the list, as well as a few larger releases that are more expensive, so I encourage you to take some time choosing. As before, if you wish to suggest an alternative title, please get it approved by me in advance.

• What Never Was (free)
• Marie’s Room
• Purrgatory (free)
• Day of the Tentacle Remastered
• Grim Fandango Remastered
• Night in the Woods
• Kentucky Route Zero
• Life is Strange Remastered
• Doki Doki Literature Club (free)
• Deltarune (chapter 1 free)
• Outer Wilds
• Chants of Sennaar
• The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
• Disco Elysium
• What Remains of Edith Finch
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
• Gone Home
• Minds Beneath Us
• Our Life (free)
• I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream
• Rusty Lake: Roots
• Fran Bow
• Monster Prom
• NORCO (act 1 free)

Consider using the keywords and filters to find a work of interest to you. You’ll need to complete at least one traversal of the work (2-3 are recommended) and document the process, so I suggest using screenshots to track interesting moments as you go. For longer games, you can limit your traversal to a segment of gameplay, such as a first episode or the first hour of content.This analysis should be a short (500 - 750 words) essay. Your critique should include:

• Briefly, position the work in a genre. Note any unusual characteristics and make any comparisons to the other works we’ve viewed so far you find helpful, and think about the extent to which this game uses techniques similar to hypertexts and/ or electronic literature.
• Discuss the work’s design and narrative choices. Using references to the Game Design Vocabulary to define the game’s key mechanics, describe the game’s overall system of play and central narrative.
• Analyze 2-3 key moments in your traversals. Provide context, screenshots, and quotes as helpful, but make sure not just to describe what’s happening: critique it, and think about what makes it stand out to you.

As with our previous critiques, don’t worry about academic formality in your voice: feel free to use “I.” A brief works cited should be included for any course texts, reviews, or games referenced. Remember, at least two citations of Game Design Vocabulary are required, and additional course text citations are recommended.