Reviews

The Eyes of Ara review for Nintendo Switch, PC

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Also on: PC
Publisher: 100 Stones Interactive
Developer: 100 Stones Interactive
Medium: Digital
Players: 1
Online: No
ESRB: E

The Eyes of Ara is one of those games that didn?t get its start in the mobile gaming world, but it feels like it should have. It?s one of those games that feels like it?s best experienced on a phone, with touch controls, graphics that are nice to look at, and not a whole lot else.

By that, of course, I mean that even if The Eyes of Ara talks in its store description about secrets and mysteries and adventure, the reality is there?s not a lot of depth here. It?s the sort of game where you solve environmental puzzle after environmental puzzle, without much to hold your attention beyond that.

To be fair, of course, some of these puzzles are outstanding. In a way, it kind of reminds me of The Witness — only I hated The Witness for its obscure internal logic, and The Eyes of Ara doesn?t really have anything like that. Rather, it?s just lots of puzzles placed in a way that hint at something deeper, but if you look closely you?ll realize: nope, just lots of puzzles.

Mind you, look closely and you?ll also see a very nice-looking game. The Eyes of Ara consistently dazzles you with its environments, even if they don?t go any deeper than what you see on the surface. It?s a little too shiny at times, considering we?re supposed to be talking about a decrepit castle, but I?m not going to complain too much about that.

And honestly, I?m not complaining too much about any of it. I may criticize The Eyes of Ara for lacking depth, but if you just want a puzzle game, it?ll deliver just that. Sometimes you don?t want to bog quality puzzles down with excessive plot — and in those times, The Eyes of Ara is just about perfect.

100 Stones Interactive provided us with an Eyes of Ara Switch code for review purposes.

Grade: B-
Matthew Pollesel

Recent Posts

Street Fighter 6 officially tops 5 million units sold

Thanks to the Nintendo Switch 2 release and some exciting content announcements, the latest and…

3 hours ago

Power Sink review for PC, Nintendo Switch

Bioshock reimagined as a cozy platformer?

4 hours ago

Celebrate Boulder Dash’s big 4-0 with a new 40th Anniversary release this July

Check out the epic anniversary edition on pretty much all console and PC platforms next…

5 hours ago

3.5 million units sold worldwide makes the Nintendo Switch 2 the fastest selling Nintendo system in company history

Guess Nintendo didn’t really have to "drop the price" after all.

6 hours ago

See the latest dev diary and a full cinematic for Mafia: The Old Country

Check out the one-two punch of new Mafia: The Old Country media from Hangar 13.

23 hours ago

Devolver Digital celebrates Pride Month with merchandise…FOR CHARITY!

...and they’re giving all the money to the charity!

1 day ago