Review of Everdeep Aurora (Switch)

Two years back, I was at PAX West 2023. Yeah, that’s when Everdeep Aurora landed on my radar. It’s this game with zero combat — just puzzles and wandering around. I mean, who knew not fighting could be so chill, right? I left feeling curious, so when I got a shot to properly dive in, I was all in.

## Looking for Mom

So, in Everdeep Aurora, you’re Shell, this little kitty on a mission for her mom. The world’s going bonkers, like meteor showers and all. Everyone’s underground, hiding. Your tool? A basic drill. Digging deeper and deeper until—reunited? Maybe?

But wait. Things get wild as you dig. You bump into all these quirky folks. Like, there’s a girl missing a dog, a frog trying to patch things up with his kid, and then there’s this snake — total con artist vibe. Oh, and there’s this couple of otters? Messy love life situation there. Helping them’s not just about being nice; you need their help to beef up your drill and whatnot. Go figure.

## Exploration’s Brilliant Bits

Exploring’s where it’s at in Everdeep Aurora. Shell ends up with a bunch of stuff. Hats, for style points I guess. Papers, gems, battery things. It’s got this throwback Game Boy Color look, but then there’s dice rolling, crane games, retro scenes. All in a day’s work, right? Few hours in, and you get multiple endings by sniffing out secret spots. Can’t say the unexpected wasn’t nice.

Now, curveball—the lack of waypoints? Ugh, endless loops of being lost. Conversations? Rewarding. But I wished for a radar or something, not just the simple map. No quest log! It’s like juggling NPC demands. Like, where do I even find that otter again? And Switch players, beware. Bit of a screen stutter alert. Not a dealbreaker, but still.

## Is It Worth It? Maybe. Kinda.

Everdeep Aurora: a rollercoaster. Soundtrack’s a joy. Graphics pop. The characters, layered. Combat-free gaming where discovery reigns. But — yeah, there’s always that but — wandering aimlessly blows. Couple guideownrefs, and it could’ve soared. Mixed feelings, really. Whether you love it or lose it depends on your tolerance for literal wandering in the woods (or underground, but you get it).

___

Chill exploration with a dash of “where the heck do I go?”

Gameplay: 6/10
Graphics and Sound: 7/10
Replayability: 7/10

Summary: Everdeep Aurora is that game for folks who dig chill vibes, with a cast worth noting and a pathway that sometimes feels too maze-like.