I’m really enjoying this game. The narrative is clearly the heart of it, and everything (the mood, atmosphere, sound design, exploration, and puzzles) feels like it’s there to support the story. The puzzles are simple, but they work to keep the focus on the plot. I’m a bit more than 2 hours in, but the thriller vibe and the characters’ deep, emotional backstories are really pulling me in.

It was cool, thanks Degen for a key :) graphics were outstanding!

Disclaimer: I got a review copy from a press campaign for the game. I was not paid, and all my thoughts are my own and unfiltered. I also have around 10 hours of gametime, but I played much of it offline in a cafe, so whoopsies on that, Steam :D

Review:

I'll say right off the bat, if you enjoyed the stories of games such as Omori, To The Moon, or Until Then, there's plenty to like from Recall: Empty Wishes.

Taiwan has a fantastic track record with tragic indie horror games (such as Detention and Devotion), and Recall: Empty Wishes is no exception. Developed by Taiwan-based Puff Hook Studio, it follows five different characters in a non-linear and fractured story centered around the mysterious disappearance of a teenage boy.

While it's more of a visual novel than a traditional game, Recall: Empty Wishes is carried by an intriguing narrative and beautiful artwork. I want to particularly shout out the sketchbook, as the contrasting visuals were strikingly gorgeous. It also helps it's part of the best segment in the game, Tommy's.

The story, while heavily featuring horror elements, is more of a drama than anything else, about broken families and the weight of expectations. I'm not from Taiwan, so I can't vouch for authenticity, but the devs did a great job portraying their vision of Taiwan in the mid-2010s, and it makes the story feel much more personal.

There's also more than one ending, so I got a bit more reason to replay.

That said, the game does feel noticeably short. I haven't discovered everything yet (as per achievements) but I feel like this was a game that would have benefited from more slice of life moments. The character of Phoebe I felt was very undercooked, though I fully admit I may have missed some secrets with her. There's also some loose plot threads that I feel were straight up unfinished.

While the experience I did get was satisfying, a few more hours to develop characters in less stressful scenarios would go a long way towards making it a classic. As I previously mentioned, I felt the Tommy segment was the strongest part of the game, thanks to it's balance of slice of life and heartbreaking drama.

Verdict:

But as a first outing, it's a very promising start for this aspiring new studio. I highly recommend the game for anybody who loves when games trauma dump on you.

I also feel it's worth mentioning that Dangen Entertainment has a controversial history with some developers they've worked with in the past. The media campaign for Recall: Empty Wishes does have me more confident Puff Hook Studio will be properly compensated, but should that situation change, I will be sure to update my review.