Through Abandoned: The Refuge is a compact point-and-click adventure that places mystery, environmental observation, and puzzle solving ahead of action. As the third chapter in the Through Abandoned storyline, it continues the search for a missing twin brother across a strange network of parallel worlds. This time, the journey reaches the Refuge, an isolated place concealed between worlds where the player must investigate what happened, uncover pathways forward, and ultimately find a means of escape. The premise immediately creates a feeling of uncertainty, and the game largely trusts its environments to maintain that mystery instead of overwhelming the player with exposition.
Developed by Igor Krutov and published by Conglomerate 5, the game stays faithful to traditional point-and-click adventure design. Exploration involves moving through interconnected locations, examining objects, collecting useful items, and determining where those objects belong. Progress is rarely about speed or mechanical skill. Instead, the player must pay attention to visual information, remember previously inaccessible areas, and recognize relationships between objects and mechanisms. This slower structure makes it particularly suitable for players who enjoy thinking through problems without the pressure of combat or timers.
Puzzle solving provides the core of the experience. Inventory objects are scattered throughout the environments, and discovering an item is often only the beginning of the challenge. Players must understand where and how it should be used, occasionally requiring them to revisit earlier locations with new knowledge. Mini-games add further variety by introducing self-contained challenges and mechanical interactions. The better puzzles create satisfying moments when previously confusing clues suddenly make sense, although some solutions can feel less intuitive. Players who dislike experimentation or becoming temporarily stuck may therefore encounter occasional frustration.
The Refuge itself is arguably more memorable than the straightforward narrative objective. It is presented as a place suspended between realities, giving the developers freedom to combine unusual architecture, mysterious machinery, deserted spaces, and seemingly disconnected environments. Moving through these areas creates the impression of exploring the remains of something much larger than the portion directly accessible to the player. The resulting atmosphere fits the series well, encouraging curiosity about where the various passages lead and what purpose the Refuge originally served.
Its hand-drawn 2D visual presentation complements this approach. The graphics are not built around technical spectacle, but the illustrated environments possess enough personality to reinforce the game's surreal science-fiction identity. Empty corridors and strange devices often communicate more effectively than conventional dialogue would. There are also retro and horror undertones, although the game should not be mistaken for a conventional survival-horror title. The unsettling quality primarily comes from isolation and uncertainty rather than enemies constantly pursuing the player.
Storytelling is intentionally restrained. The search for the protagonist's twin brother provides a clear reason to continue exploring, while the larger concept of interconnected parallel worlds supplies the mystery surrounding that journey. Because this is the third part of an ongoing story, familiarity with the previous chapters can provide useful context. Even so, the immediate objective remains understandable on its own. The game concentrates more on discovery than character interaction, so players looking for lengthy conversations, cinematic scenes, or elaborate character development may find the narrative presentation somewhat sparse.
The minimalist design is simultaneously one of the game's strengths and weaknesses. There are few distractions from exploration and puzzle solving, allowing the experience to maintain a consistent identity. On the other hand, limited guidance means that getting stuck can interrupt the pacing significantly. Certain interactions require careful observation, while others may encourage trial and error until the intended solution becomes apparent. This old-school philosophy will likely appeal most to patient adventure fans who consider being stuck part of the satisfaction of eventually solving a puzzle.
The game is exclusively a single-player experience and also incorporates Steam achievements and trading cards. Achievement hunters have additional objectives to pursue, including secrets that reward particularly thorough exploration. These elements provide some incentive to inspect environments carefully rather than simply rushing toward the ending. The broad selection of supported languages is another welcome feature for such a small independent adventure.
Steam Deck compatibility is a notable advantage. The game is officially Steam Deck Verified, with its core functionality working through the handheld's controls and its interface remaining usable on the smaller display. Controller prompts and general navigation are appropriately supported, while the game can run using settings suitable for the device. Its viewpoint and methodical pacing also translate naturally to portable play, although demanding visual settings can still make sensible performance adjustments worthwhile for players prioritizing battery life or consistent performance.
Through Abandoned: The Refuge ultimately delivers a focused adventure for players who enjoy mysterious locations, environmental clues, inventory puzzles, mini-games, and the deliberate pacing associated with classic point-and-click design. It does not offer the scope or presentation of a large modern adventure, and its occasional obscurity can make progression uneven. Nevertheless, the strange parallel-world setting gives the experience a distinctive atmosphere, while the puzzle-driven structure remains engaging when its clues and solutions come together naturally. For players already interested in the larger Through Abandoned mystery, it serves as a worthwhile continuation, while newcomers with a taste for compact, surreal puzzle adventures can still find plenty to appreciate.
Rating: 7/10
