Unleaving derives its title and thematic elements from Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem, “Spring and Fall: To a Young Child”. More than just a game, Unleaving is a metaphorical experience realized through meticulously crafted, hand-made illustrations and clever puzzle mechanics. It exists at the intersection of gaming and art. Each scene is a hand-painted work, seamlessly integrating pencil and graphite textures into the puzzle gameplay. The narrative and atmosphere of each chapter are built around a specific theme, influencing the overall color palette and artistic style.
Similar to Hauntii, which I recently reviewed, Unleaving utilizes hand-painted graphics and puzzle-based gameplay. However, Unleaving excels in both aspects. While possessing a visual style reminiscent of Playdead’s Limbo, Unleaving forges its own distinct identity, unlike One Last Breath, which leaned heavily on the design of Inside. The puzzles begin with simple mechanics, but rapidly increase in complexity, demanding precise timing and positioning to achieve the desired outcome.
I encountered a particularly challenging puzzle early in the game. Although the objective was immediately clear, the execution proved elusive. Even slight misalignments of interactive elements could lead to failure, necessitating a reload. A hint system becomes available after multiple failed attempts, providing a visual cue to guide the player without explicitly solving the puzzle.
Unleaving distinguishes itself with a compelling visual style and engaging mechanics. However, the narrative felt underdeveloped, and the time dedicated to it felt disproportionate to its impact, especially given the strength of other aspects of the game.
Unleaving is currently available for PC and Mac. The recommended system specifications include 8GB of RAM and a GeForce GTX 960 or equivalent graphics card.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Unleaving. It offers both challenging and rewarding gameplay and a visually striking artistic experience.
Orangutan Matter Games provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial process.
