There’s a lot of puzzle games on the market nowadays. A growing subgenre of the larger puzzle style of presentation is the puzzle-adventure strain. Games like Ori and the Will of the Wisps found a lot of favor with Xbox gamers. Now, a new action-puzzle title, Iris.Fall, makes its way to the Xbox One. PC fans know this game well, but will console players have fun exploring this eerie, M.C. Escher-influenced game?

It’s funny to talk about what a game is about when it doesn’t feature any dialogue. This presentation style gives players plenty of room to interpret things as they see fit. Still, the general story of Iris.Fall is easy to follow. A young girl awakens from a nightmare and follows a black cat through an array of eerie environments. Each area features numerous puzzles to solve, all organized to help you progress through the story. The story doesn’t take the forefront of the experience here, however, so if you’re a narrative-driven player this might not be for you.

The real focus here is the art style and visuals. Inspired by artist M.C. Escher-style dimensions and complex spaces, the game is like a playable work of art itself. The eeriness of the game is aided greatly by each environment’s hard-to-follow patterns and layouts. It adds an extra challenge trying to figure out what is going on in each area of the game. Overall, the lack of narrative doesn’t impact the game negatively. In fact, it allows this unique art style to shine stronger.

If you’re a fan of games like Limbo, the Ori titles, and other puzzle-adventure games, this is for you. I think the art can be appreciated by all who see screenshots, but it’s worth noting the game’s story is secondary to everything else. If you’re not someone who likes the challenge of a puzzle, or in this case tons of puzzles one after the next, then this isn’t for you.

I’d argue that this game isn’t a showstopper like some other titles in the genre. Still, I enjoyed my time figuring out the mystery behind this little girl and her warped world. It’s a great playthrough for those looking to break the mold with something a little out of the ordinary.

An Xbox One Review Copy of Iris.Fall was provided by PM Studios for this Review.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Iris.Fall

$14.99 USD

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Incredible art style and Escher-style design
• Good puzzles that don't feel too difficult but offer a fair challenge
• Intriguing world and main character

Cons

• Very little narrative, if any, involved from start to finish
• Lack of color distinction might seem boring to some