Hypogea

Hypogea is a beautiful little game that feels like it would have been right at home in the PlayStation 2 era, and I mean that in the most complimentary way. It looks and plays just like the best puzzle platformer games of that era, while also taking advantage of modern QOL features and conveniences. Without a single line of dialogue, Hypogea tells a compelling story with a surprising amount of lore, and stands as a prime example of video games as art.

A compelling little platformer that does things effectively with a precise set of tools. Hypogea is very good at getting its ideas across without any clutter. There’s a great sense of scale and atmosphere throughout the entire game with a silent narrative to get you wondering about this derelict world. I enjoyed that the focus was more on exploring and learning than nailing the platforming. Although I will say that the range for grabbing ledges can be overly generous, which leads to occasional magnetizing moments where control is slightly taken away from you. Otherwise, the controls work well and cleverly get a lot of mileage out of just two buttons. If you’re enticed by games that are as meticulous and intriguing as they are brief, absolutely give Hypogea a play!