MSRP: $0.99
Platforms: Win, Mac
Release: 10/9/15
I admit it; sometimes I take a chance on games just because I like the way they look, and I’ve been nursing a mild obsession with terraforming for quite a few years. At first glance, Awe looks like a game about terraforming, but at its heart, it’s a simple but interesting puzzle game.
If I had one gripe here, it’s the minimalist menus. It didn’t take too much poking to find out what the buttons did, but it wouldn’t have killed the whole vibe of the game to add a couple words in here and there.
The puzzle starts right upon loading in – where you need to figure out what exactly it is the game wants you to do. If you bumble about unproductively for too long, you will get pop-up hints. That said, I don’t want to be the one who spoils the fun.
Awe is visually pleasing, mechanically sound, and lovely to listen to. I feel like this would be a great game to play to unwind after a stressful day – there are no timers, no pressure, and you can play around at your own pace. Considering the poor quality of many value games, it’s the best you can hope for under a dollar.
366 Days of Gaming 