Desktop Explorer

A very clever puzzle/detective game, which makes excellent use of the classic desktop computer interface. The music in particular instilled me with a feeling of nostalgia for the late 90's era of familiarising myself with actually using a desktop computer, and it makes very good use of the tools that you're presented with as soon as you boot the game up. Even arranging the various folders, programs and windows in your limited desktop space felt like a minigame in of itself! Some puzzles can be a little bit out there in terms of the complexity of knowing what you need to be doing. I did have to resort to getting a few gentle nudges to steer me in the right direction, but progressing in the game always felt quite rewarding. If I had one general complaint, it's that the final act of the game felt like it had been cut a little short, and had (at least from my perspective) a lot of potential for further puzzles and unique ideas. I think Desktop Explorer had the risk of playing it a bit too lightly with the old-timey-PC idea, and making it a bit too reference heavy, or using it in a way that felt too tongue in cheek, but the desktop exploration ends up feeling quite sincere and accurate (it even has a GameFAQs style website, which immediately earned bonus points from me). Also worth mentioning that whilst this game does have horror elements, it is still primarily a puzzle game, and I don't personally feel that the horror elements would be enough to deter people who are maybe put off by that genre. It blends both spookiness and thinking together very well, but the primary focus is still on solving the many things that game presents you with. As a puzzle/detective game, it's very good. I also think that if you're someone who got into computers/internet exploration during the era that the game is mimicking, you'll get an extra special kick out of it too.