Tunic

Tunic (2022) is an action-adventure game where you play a small fox who wakes with no memory of where he is. You push through trees, pick up weapons and learn new moves to discover an expanse of forests, caves and landscapes. You can do anything from the moment you start, but it takes time (and the cryptic game manual pages you find as you play) to discover your abilities, upgrade and the secret language of the world.

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Play involves exploration and puzzle solving along with challenging encounters with enemies. You must develop the skills and resources to beat them and progress. You choose your own way forward and decide how and when to take on new areas and enemies. Many routes and secrets are hidden in plain sight for the more inquisitive player.

Cryptic runes and flashbacks hint at your memory of the place, but it remains unfamiliar. Then there are those pages of the manual you find, packed full not only of tips but other hints at what is going on. It's the intrigue as much as the challenge that calls you forward.

With hand-drawn style visuals and an eerie soundscape, Tunic tells a story about overcoming loneliness. As a stranger in a strange land, you push on to discover if you are the only one here. Venture too far too soon and it becomes clear that this is not a world inviting your presence. There are terrible things out there, and this tiny fox is going to dig deep to find out why.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Tunic 4 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 7 weeks ago.