

The puzzling comes, mostly, from the specific handful of objects that can be carried between these different replicas, and that appear in all of these worlds at once. Graceful Decay has mastered an aesthetic with Maquette, even ignoring the fact it's a debut. Back outside that first big outer dome I mentioned? An even bigger replica - and presumably on and on from there. Inside that middle dome? An even more miniature replica. Beneath that middle dome is a waist-high replica of the dome you're in: four puzzle areas, an even smaller dome in the middle. Beneath this giant dome are four gated puzzle areas arranged opposite each other, crossroads-like, and in the middle is another dome, this time only about two stories high. Each level, as such, occurs under a large, domed-roof structure, several stories high. Maquette is a recursive puzzler, primarily - another stylish, concept-heavy indie from arthouse publisher Annapurna Interactive - and the core is excellent. Availability: Out now on PC, PS4, and PS5.Annapurna Interactive picked up the game in February.įor more, check out the best games you can play on the iPad, and every game available on Apple Arcade.Watch on YouTube Maquette - gameplay walkthrough trailer Maquette review The puzzle game was first announced back in 2011 at the Game Developers Conference's Experimental Gameplay Workshop, Polygon reported this year.

Maquette has been a long time coming for fans of Graceful Decay. The way the environment continues to alter mirrors the relationship between Kenzie and Michael - how two people can grow together, but also how even the smallest problems can still end up being difficult to overcome. Keys become bridges and ramps, for example, and cracks in the sidewalk become doorways. To solve the puzzles, you'll need to get creative and change the scale of objects. Whatever you do in the smaller world reflects in the larger world (and vice versa). Perhaps most interestingly to me, was what was underneath the ornate pink dome, the Maquette, after leaving the Garden: a smaller, exact copy of the outside world. Maquette gives a fresh take on the classic love story and its accompanying challenges. Once you reach the next chapter, the puzzle work begins, and as the story progresses, more places are unlocked. It's a quiet, tranquil area to walk through as these phrases pop up, setting the story. The game takes place over seven chapters, the first one being The Garden. The cutscenes feature only voices, which delivers a more intimate experience compared to other games.Ī small key, when laid in the correct place, can serve as a bridge in this wild perspective puzzle game.

The thoughtful design and the memories in the chosen phrases made me think about my own relationships, immediately investing me in the game. In December, Graceful Decay founder Hanford Lemoore gave CNET a first look at Maquette's intricate gameplay on Discord.Īmid these Alice in Wonderland-style puzzles, the game offers clues into Kenzie and Michael's relationship, furthering the narrative, with phrases that appear on walls as you explore the world.
