Aporia: Beyond the Valley

Aporia offers an intriguing opening, with players emerging from a casket into a silent world. The where and why are secrets to uncover as you explore beautiful but desolate environments with a strange canister of liquid light as a guide. Part puzzle, part first-person platformer, part exploration (or “walking simulator” to some), its unstated purpose will confound you to begin with. Persist, and the gorgeous world – possibly fantastic, definitely arboreal – becomes an enigma that demands to be cracked. Devoid of dialogue or supporting characters, though, it’s tough to reach that point. What little story exists is revealed intermittently through arcane animatics, while puzzles lack much challenge beyond opening paths by activating switches with the light stick.

Without the immediate hook found in The Talos Principle or classics such as Myst, Aporia will prove a slog for some, but is a worthwhile mystery that rewards patience. 

Aporia: Beyond the Valley

Aporia offers an intriguing opening, with players emerging from a casket into a silent world. The where and why are secrets to uncover as you explore beautiful but desolate environments with a strange canister of liquid light as a guide. Part puzzle, part first-person platformer, part exploration (or walking simulator to some), its unstated purpose will confound you to begin with. Persist, and the gorgeous world possibly fantastic, definitely arboreal becomes an enigma that demands to be cracked. Devoid of dialogue or supporting characters, though, its tough to reach that point. What little story exists is revealed intermittently through arcane animatics, while puzzles lack much challenge beyond opening paths by activating switches with the light stick. Without the immediate hook found in The Talos Principle or classics such as Myst, Aporia will prove a slog for some, but is a worthwhile mystery that rewards patience.