Awe

Genre: Puzzle / Simulation

Players: 1

.

Review:

WARNING: THIS GAME IS ONLY PLAYABLE IN PORTABLE MODE

Awe is a game that fits somewhere in between the Puzzle and Simulation genres, playing like an extremely simplified “God Simulation”, or like a Puzzle game with an abstract focus and an extremely relaxed pacing that doesn’t exert any real pressure on the player. Also, there are some very minimal Music-Rhythm elements here as well. However, in the end, this is simply a game about repeating patterns to fill out spaces on a global map to meet a list of requirements.

Also, as the above warning states, this game is playable only in the Nintendo Switch’s handheld mode, as the game can only be played using a touchscreen. It’s a game that can be displayed on the TV using docked mode, and unlike some games with specific controller requirements, it doesn’t even turn your controller off if you inadvertently select it out of a menu, but if you do you won’ be able to accomplish anything in-game without taking it back out of the dock and using the touchscreen.

WARNING: GAMEPLAY SPOILERS?

To give you a better idea of how this game plays, you’re presented with a simple, low-poly globe slowly rotating in place. On the left side of the screen, you have various types of terrain, most of which must be unlocked to use, and each with a number. This number indicates the required number of that terrain type that must be on the globe to complete the level. Terrain can be placed anywhere on the globe that there isn’t water, using a form of energy the game calls awe. To get more awe, or unlock the locked terrain types, the player must tap on placed terrain of the corresponding colors in an order, much like the classic game Simon. As such, players complete levels by placing terrain, touching it in order to get more energy and more terrain, and repeating this process until they have met their quota for the level.

GAMEPLAY SPOILERS OVER

Okay, now all of that stuff I just said about how the game is played? The game tells you none of it. The game uses an extremely minimalist presentation that assumes that you’ll figure things out through interaction and experimentation… and to be fair to the game, I managed to do so just fine, but there was a point where I wasn’t sure what the game wanted me to do that I was just touching things and wondering, “what the heck is the point of all of this?”

I still kinda’ wonder that, actually, as the only challenge to the game seems to be in figuring out exactly how it’s supposed to be played. And if that’s the case… I guess I’m sorry for spoiling it for you? I mean, not sorry enough to go back and delete that paragraph, because this is a review and you undoubtedly want to know how this game is played, but sorry that telling you about the game kinda’ ruins the game.

There, that spoiler warning you saw earlier, I just put that in now. That should do the trick. However, the simple fact that telling you how to play the game may ruin it kinda’ hints that there’s not a heck of a lot going on under the hood here.

Having said that, there’s something appealing about Awe. The colorful low-poly presentation and soothing, calm music are really quite nice, and paired with gameplay that absolutely does not challenge the player, aside from the challenge of figuring it out, is something I can definitely see making for a nice, relaxed experience for some players.

Having said all of that, Awe is an extremely niche game. Most players probably won’t find much value in it. There’s not much to do here, and no real challenge. But players looking to play a game exclusively in handheld mode looking for something interactive that’s calming and doesn’t provide any real challenge may find this to be a nice little toy of sorts.

tl;dr – Awe is a game that’s part Puzzle and part Simulation, with a bit of Music-Rhythm as well. It is only playable using the touchscreen in handheld mode. It is a calm, relaxing game about interacting with a planet in ways that the player is meant to figure out on their own. However, once you figure out how to play it, doesn’t really offer any added depth or challenge. Some players enjoy Awe, but most will get bored with it very quickly.

Grade: C

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