Okay, so picture this. Two years back, I’m at PAX West 2023. The place is buzzing, and I stumble upon this game, Everdeep Aurora. It was like the universe wanted me to chill out — no monsters, no fights — just solving puzzles and exploring. I was hooked. Fast forward, and there I was, finally diving in for a proper playthrough. Excitement? Check.
Now, what’s Everdeep Aurora about? You’re this adorable kitten named Shell. Seriously, a kitten! Anyway, you’re on a quest to find your mom. Imagine meteors crashing down, and everyone’s taken cover underground. Shell, armed with a basic drill, burrows down. The deeper you go, the more tangled it gets — as if life isn’t complicated enough, right?
So, anyways, you meet these quirky characters underground. A girl trying to find her dog (been there!), a frog fixing stuff with his daughter, and, my personal fave, a sweet-talking snake. Helping them out gets you upgrades for your drill and new tricks up your sleeves. Be nice — it’s worth it!
Alright, here’s the deal about exploring in Everdeep Aurora. You get hats (yes, hats!), documents full of lore — the works. Somehow, it has this retro Game Boy vibe. You roll dice, play crane games — even the cutscenes take you back in time. Now, I managed to wrap it up in a few hours, but — sigh — there are so many secret paths. Multiple endings galore. Hands down, discovering stuff is where it’s at.
But, hold on. It’s not all sunshine. Getting lost is way too easy. No waypoints, folks. You end up squinting at a basic map, retracing steps — and, oh, trying to recall which NPC needs what from whom is mental gymnastics. Letters to otters, and where was that post office again? Also, on the Switch, expect some jerky screen action. Not game-breaking, but come on.
Okay, big question — would I recommend it? Kind of a mixed bag here. Love the music, graphics charm me, and the no-combat angle is fresh. But man, it’s frustrating wandering around underground with no clue where to go. Just a few hints would make this game shine. If labyrinthine confusion doesn’t drive you nuts, you just might dig it.
Everdeep Aurora — it’s like a chill trip with surprise roadblocks. Characters? Great. Questing? Not so much. Your call whether to brave the maze.
