The Indie scene has just recently caught onto a trend popularized by games like Doki Doki Literature Club and Inscryption. Games that break the 4^th wall, requiring you to delve into other parts of the experience to solve problems inside the game are fairly new. However, Oneshot was in the works back in 2014 and has now made its way to Nintendo Switch. Oneshot: World Machine Edition adds a few new features, but mainly offers a surprisingly intriguing experience to a new audience.

Oneshot puts you on a virtual desktop that contains a game installed on it called Oneshot. Yes, this is a “game within a game” type of experience you’re embarking on. You also have access to the computer’s documents and an array of apps and features that will become available as you play. Admittedly, the Nintendo eShop page mentions that there are new features, but they aren’t listed.

However, in the settings menu, there are touchscreen controls which I would imagine are most definitely new. The controls (touch control options aside) are a little odd though. With the Joy-Cons, you can use the right stick and ZR to move your cursor and drag windows/programs or interact with the PC interface. On the flip side, in the game of Oneshot, you use the left stick and your face buttons to interact with the game’s interface.

Truth be told these controls are a little tricky to get used to. However, there are a few accessibility options that allow you to set things like running as a default instead of walking. There is also a colorblind mode in case you need that for some of the puzzles.

Oneshot as a whole is a puzzle-adventure game, in which you help a girl named Niko. Niko seems to be from another world not dissimilar to your own. She knows about computers, and thanks to the rules of the game she can break the 4^th wall and communicate with you. Your goal is to help her get home by bringing the “Sun” (a lightbulb) to the tower in a dying world.

However, Oneshot is not as simple as that. There is another voice that speaks to you, an intelligent being that knows you control Niko’s journey. You will have to use files on the computer, as well as items in Niko’s environment, to solve puzzles. It sounds complex, and to a degree it is. Oneshot isn’t an incredibly difficult game though, since most of the time if you read all the notes and talk to NPCs, you’ll get clues on how to proceed.

Oneshot has some Undertale vibes to it too. Depending on your actions, the ending you get changes. On top of that, the game remembers various playthroughs, so there are some great 4^th wall-breaking moments that will make you question what you’re experiencing. By modern standards (compared to 2014) I don’t know that Oneshot: World Machine Edition is anything special.

There are a variety of things to collect though as you play. Lore information, as well as cosmetic wallpapers and themes for your desktop, can be collected inside the game of Oneshot. With multiple endings, there’s also a good degree of replay value.

Despite it not being the most revolutionary experience, I really enjoyed my time with Oneshot: World Machine Edition, even if the controls gave me some trouble at first. The game plays smoothly on Switch, and I didn’t have to worry about any crashes or lag. Dangen Entertainment did a great job working with the original devs to bring Oneshot to Switch.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Oneshot: World Machine Edition was provided by Dangen Entertainment for this review.

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Oneshot: World Machine Edition

$14.99

9

Score

9.0/10

Pros

• Intriguing Concept
• Lots of Replay Value
• Interesting 4th-Wall Breaking Gameplay
• Accessibility Features

Cons

• Controls are a Little Odd