It’s an intriguing start, though, not least when you discover the space through the doorway is blank – apparently due to a minimalist king having painted everything white. The Unfinished Swan begins with a classic tale: boy loves mom boy loses mom boy bestowed painting of a swan painted swan comes to life and disappears one night through a mysterious doorway through which boy follows. It’s rare to see truly fresh games on iPad, but unmemory manages to thrill and intrigue in equal measure, doing clever things with narratives, adventures and puzzling to an extent we’ve not seen since classic iPad game Device 6. And once you’re done, there are several more to tackle. You soon realize what once appeared to be a scrolling page of storyline is an intricate network of interlinked puzzles. The phone rings and you scroll up to receive a message (that’s best jotted down). Scroll down and more story is revealed, but interaction beyond reading is minimal.Ī few minutes in, everything changes. A telephone has a button to press, but it doesn’t do anything. You awake with blood on your hands, with no idea where you are. Unmemory initially resembles a conventional illustrated mystery novel. As with any FMV title, it can be clunky, and repeat play is limited but there’s humanity and personality within these dates, and even the potential to find out something new about yourself along the way. However you choose to play, Five Dates is interesting. You can play based on your own personality and morality, or respond to questions in a way you think will best continue the conversation. This is where the ‘game’ element comes in. Now and again, you make a decision on Vinny’s behalf, which can impact on the ongoing conversation. We’re in FMV territory here – much of the game comprises lengthy video clips. Your aim: to help him find a soulmate – or at least not to make a complete idiot of himself. You play the role of Vinny, a millennial who’s signed up to a dating app. Five Datesįive Dates is a virtual dating game, set in lockdown London.
Our favorite iPad immersive adventures, point-and-click games, and story-led narratives. Looking for an upgrade? Check out the latest cheap iPad deals.Simple stuff, then, but focused, refined, elegant, and the kind of thing that’s ideal to unwind with on a rainy afternoon. Naturally, your aim is to rearrange the letters to form the correct word.Īt first, this is basic fare, and fun and relaxing as you drag the chunky columns around, but over its 200-plus levels, Letter Rooms lobs in additional challenges – immovable columns you can turn on and off columns that can be switched between several letters starting points that wrongfoot you into chasing an incorrect solution. At the top of the screen, there’s a clue. On iPad, it’s bold and tactile, with colorful vertical columns containing letters and symbols. Letter Rooms is a self-described “simply good anagram game” – and that seems fair enough.