Review: Everdeep Aurora for Switch

Sure thing, here goes:

So, picture this: it was a couple of years back at PAX West 2023, which, by the way, was a wild ride of a convention. I’m wandering around, minding my own business, and bam! I stumble upon Everdeep Aurora. Not gonna lie, I was drawn in like a moth to a flame. This game’s got this almost zen-like vibe. No fights, just puzzles and exploring, which honestly kinda appealed to my non-competitive side. I leave with my curiosity piqued and couldn’t resist diving deeper for a review.

Anyway, about the game itself. You play as this little kitten, Shell, looking for her mom ’cause, oh yeah, the world’s getting blasted by meteors or something and everyone’s hiding underground. Shell’s got this basic drill thing and the deeper she digs, the more she hopes to reunite with her family. Simple, right?

But here’s the kicker: things start getting interesting with the other characters you run into. There’s a girl looking for her lost dog, a frog with some daughter drama, and a sneaky snake who’s up to no good. And don’t get me started on the otters having relationship issues. Weird? Yeah. But helping them boosts Shell’s abilities like getting a beefier drill or being able to jump better. It’s basically the game’s way of saying, “be nice and you’ll get ahead.”

Think about it this way, Everdeep Aurora is all about going deeper and deeper. Shell’s got an inventory full of quirky stuff by the end. Hats. Lore documents. Gems for drill power—it’s a whole collection! And even though it’s got this retro Game Boy Color look, there are these cool side bits where you’re playing with dice or solving puzzles from a computer. Oh, and those old-school cutscenes? Nostalgia trip. What got me hooked was the exploration. So many paths and secret spots. Multiple endings? Yeah, it’s a thing.

But—here’s the catch—not everything’s smooth sailing. With no handy-dandy waypoint markers, you can get helplessly lost. It’s rewarding to help characters out, sure, but a little guidance would’ve been golden. Plus, keeping track of who needs what without a quest log is, well, a headache. Try remembering where the otter with the letter is—it’s a nightmare sometimes. Especially on the Switch, things can get a bit jittery. I mean, it should run better even on my old toaster of a console.

Now, wrapping this rollercoaster up, Everdeep Aurora is kind of like having a mixed-tape of feelings. Awesome music, great visuals, intriguing characters, and exploring’s such a unique selling point ’cause, hey, no combat! But getting lost in the underground could test anyone’s patience. A few more guideposts and it could have been something really special. As it stands, if you like getting a bit lost, you’re in for a treat. Otherwise, maybe keep a notepad handy.