Death's Door

Verdict: Recommended

The music alone is enough of an incentive to buy this game. Wow. There's a particular level (Inner Furnace) that features moving pistons that move to the exact rhythm of the music behind it - a very simple thing, but it made navigating an otherwise combat-heavy space incredibly fun. I don't see many games where its music is tied so deeply to level design, and it was a delight to encounter it here.

Beyond just that, though, Death's Door is incredibly cute. It's a strange thing to say about a game whose story concerns automation and stagnation (and late-stage capitalism if you squint, although maybe that's just me), but it really is a very cute little game. You play as an adorable little crow who gets beat to shit all the time against enemies with clever and beautifully-rendered designs. You don't get a map, but each level is designed with specific pathing in mind, so it's very rare to a) get lost or b) miss anything. The NPCs you encounter are both stately and scary.

Really, even despite the themes and story (which I found fascinating), it's a delightful romp through a desolate landscape filled with dangerous monsters and their many, many projectiles. I recommend you try this if you're willing to work through its combat learning curve, after which it really is incredibly fun.