The Magnificent Trufflepigs
Review

The Magnificent Trufflepigs (2021) is a narrative game where you use a metal detector to explore an old farm. As you do you retread old relationships in the English countryside. You'll find and dig up treasures to share with your friend Beth over a walkie-talkie while a mystery slowly unveils itself.

Many years ago, Beth found an earring while metal detecting there. Now, the old farm is only a week away from being demolished and Beth decides this is her last chance to rekindle that childhood sense of adventure -- and find the matching earring. Despite warnings from her friends, she hatches a plan to invite Adam back into her life.

As Adam, you move explore the farm under Beth's guidance over a walkie talkie. The Magnificent Trufflepigs creates the excitement of life's potential through treasure hunting. It's a game about finding pieces of metal, but also the surprises we find in Beth and Adam's relationship.

The exploration has a meditative feel, like Everybody's Gone to the Rapture or Firewatch. Although most of the things you find are rubbish, there's real enjoyment sharing your progress with Beth over the walkie talkie. This develops into sharing photos from your life as your relationship deepens.

The Magnificent Trufflepigs navigates coming to terms with becoming an adult as Adam and Beth recall the summer holidays of their youth after a long period of silence between them. With some darker and more dramatic moments, such as an interruption by the police, the game keeps you engaged with a steady stream of information about their history.

Our examiner, Ellen Robertson, first checked The Magnificent Trufflepigs 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 5 weeks ago.