Alekon

Like pokemon snap, but better

Not a bad game, maybe a 6/10 Similar to pokemon snap in mechanics but the graphics are a little strange - not to my taste I got this in a key bundle - I personally wouldn't pay full price for the game, as charming as it is Still recommend for casual gaming, and would be especially good for kids or younger players

Alekon is a gentle, imaginative adventure that centers on curiosity, creativity, and the simple joy of observation rather than challenge or competition. Developed and published by The Alekon Company, the game invites players into the whimsical Realm of Fiction, a dreamlike world inhabited by strange and endearing creatures known as fictions, each embodying abstract ideas, emotions, or concepts. Rather than pushing the player forward with urgency or conflict, Alekon encourages a relaxed pace, asking players to slow down, look closely, and engage with its world through the lens of a camera. The core of the experience revolves around photography. Players travel through colorful environments, initially along guided, on-rails paths, and are tasked with capturing photographs of fictions in expressive and interesting moments. Scoring is based on elements such as framing, clarity, angle, and how prominently the subject appears in the shot, rewarding experimentation and careful timing. This system is easy to understand but surprisingly satisfying, as even small improvements in composition can noticeably improve results. Early on, the structured camera paths help ease players into the mechanics, ensuring that photography feels approachable rather than intimidating. As the game progresses, Alekon gradually opens up into a more freeform experience. Areas that were once traversed on rails become open spaces to explore at leisure, allowing players to revisit locations, search for hidden fictions, and chase more creative or higher-quality photographs. This transition is one of the game’s strongest moments, as it shifts the focus from simply reacting to what passes in front of the camera to actively exploring the environment. The added freedom makes the world feel alive and encourages players to experiment with tools, angles, and timing in ways that feel genuinely playful rather than goal-driven. Beyond photography, Alekon adds depth through its cast of fictions and the activities associated with them. Once discovered and photographed, these creatures appear in a central hub area where they can be interacted with directly. Each fiction has its own personality, dialogue, and optional side activities, ranging from small rhythm challenges and puzzles to musical interactions and lighthearted social moments. These diversions are not mechanically complex, but they serve an important purpose: they give each creature a sense of individuality and help the world feel like a place rather than a series of levels. The hub becomes a cozy space where progress feels personal rather than purely numerical. Visually, Alekon leans into a bright, stylized aesthetic that feels hand-crafted and intentionally whimsical. Creature designs are imaginative and often humorous, blending abstract concepts with friendly shapes and expressive animations. Environments are equally vibrant, filled with bold colors and playful geometry that reinforce the game’s dreamlike tone. This visual approach pairs well with the writing, which is frequently light, self-aware, and gently absurd without ever becoming cynical. The overall presentation creates an inviting atmosphere that feels safe, curious, and welcoming to players of all ages. Mechanically, the game remains intentionally simple. Tools such as donuts or magnets can be used to influence creature behavior and encourage more dynamic photo opportunities, but they are designed more for experimentation than mastery. There is no pressure to optimize every shot or complete objectives perfectly, and failure carries no meaningful penalty. This low-stakes design philosophy makes Alekon especially appealing as a relaxing experience, though it also means that players seeking deep systems or escalating difficulty may find the gameplay loop modest in scope. Narratively, Alekon does not tell a traditional story with dramatic arcs or high stakes. Instead, its narrative emerges through world-building, character interactions, and the gradual sense of familiarity that develops as more fictions are discovered. The Realm of Fiction feels like a celebration of imagination itself, and the game’s tone consistently reinforces the idea that creativity, curiosity, and play are valuable ends in their own right. Progress is measured less by plot advancement and more by the growing sense of connection to the world and its inhabitants. Ultimately, Alekon stands out as a heartfelt and imaginative photography adventure that prioritizes wonder over challenge. Its blend of guided discovery, open exploration, charming characters, and creative freedom results in an experience that feels cozy, personal, and quietly joyful. While it may not appeal to players looking for intense mechanics or traditional progression systems, it offers a refreshing alternative: a game that invites you to observe, experiment, and appreciate the beauty of strange ideas brought to life. For players seeking a relaxed, creative journey filled with charm and imagination, Alekon delivers a uniquely memorable experience. Rating: 8/10

Fantastic casual game with a few god-awful rhythm minigames

Do you like Pokémon Snap? Then you'll like this game. Alekon fills in an interesting niche of gameplay where you travel through various levels and take pictures of all sorts of whimsical and colorful creatures. And that's the game. At first you go through levels in a guided tour sort of manner, where movement and the path you take is automatic and you just have to focus on taking pictures of animals as they go past your view. But after that, you're able to load up these levels and run around them and explore at your leisure. It's colorful, fun, and friendly and a cozy casual type of game that you can play at your pace, however fast or slow that might be. The game does an excellent job at helping you figure out what types of pictures you're missing, giving you hints on where to find hidden animals and how you might provoke a specific reaction from them to get the perfect photo. After that, your photos are judged and then added to a photo album for later viewing. Unlike Pokémon Snap, you're not stuck playing the same level over and over again, waiting for a specific moment to take a specific photo only to get to the end and being told that you weren't close enough. Overall, you'll get about 10 hours of gameplay out of it. And that's not including the little minigames you unlock along the way. There are plenty of cosmetic things that you can unlock if that's your fancy as well!

I really enjoyed this game. I love photography-style based games and this one was exceptional in my opinion. *possible spoilers* I thought the ability to unlock mini games with each character and the ability to wander each area (outside of a set path) elevated this game for me. Each mini game was fun and different too which kept the gameplay enjoyable for me. :)

It's like an evolution of Pokemon Snap. The main appeal of this game for me was the ability to freely roam the areas to take pictures after playing through all of the pre set paths. There are also many side quests that unlock both new game mechanics and a slew of customisations around the hub world. The characters are fun and well written and it's genuinely just an all round good time. I cannot recommend this enough, it's really great!

Nice short game. There's essentially 3 gameplay components. The first one is similar to Pokemon Snap. The second are the minigames in the Hub area. Had some trouble with the quick-time events, but I'm going to chalk that up to skill issue. The third is a free wander of the area to complete puzzles and be able to take photos without panicking.

I got this game through the 2023 Yogscast Jingle Jam and it sat dormant in my library for a while until I finally played it. Once I did, the game was an absolute joy! It was relatively simple gameplay but still varied and highly engaging, and the minigames were fantastic! It made it so exciting to unlock new monsters, and finding all the poses was super fun.

I like this game a lot, however, I find the some of the platforming and mini-games to be quite difficult and frustrating. By beating the mini-games you get items you can be creative with, like stickers and decorations, which I love. There is a huge variety of things to do and the fictions are interesting and cute.