Return of the Obra Dinn might be my favorite game in years

PC Gaming
1

No spoilers here.

I just finished Return of the Obra Dinn, and it’s easily one of the most brilliant games I’ve ever played. I appreciate that it’s a short game too—perfect for someone like me who has a toddler running around. It’s such a unique and haunting experience, and Lucas Pope, if you’re reading this, I owe you a drink for making such a masterpiece.

The emotions and tension this game made me feel were incredible. To really enjoy it, I think you should go in without knowing much. It’s an investigation game, and that’s all you need to know. That said, the Steam screenshots don’t do it justice at all—they make the game look bland, but once you start playing, you’ll see how unique and effective the art style is.

For me, this game is up there with Outer Wilds and Subnautica—games that are best experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. Now that I’ve finished it, I feel a little empty and am wondering what to play next. Any suggestions?

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You should check out Case of the Golden Idol. It was directly inspired by Obra Dinn.

3

Hollis said:
You should check out Case of the Golden Idol. It was directly inspired by Obra Dinn.

I just finished that one. It’s really good but feels different from Obra Dinn.

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Hollis said:
You should check out Case of the Golden Idol. It was directly inspired by Obra Dinn.

Wait, what?! How does it play on PS5?

5

Oli said:

Hollis said:
You should check out Case of the Golden Idol. It was directly inspired by Obra Dinn.

Wait, what?! How does it play on PS5?

It’s decent on PS5 but definitely feels more natural on PC. If you have Netflix on your phone, you can also play Case of the Golden Idol and its sequel for free. The mobile port works surprisingly well.

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@Phoenix
That’s amazing. I had no idea!

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Oli said:

Hollis said:
You should check out Case of the Golden Idol. It was directly inspired by Obra Dinn.

Wait, what?! How does it play on PS5?

I played it on Switch, and it worked just fine. Still, I think PC is probably the best platform for it.

8

Hollis said:
You should check out Case of the Golden Idol. It was directly inspired by Obra Dinn.

If anyone’s curious, you can get the Golden Idol games for free through Netflix games if you have a subscription. It works pretty well on mobile, although the dragging mechanic can be a little annoying.

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I played the whole thing in one night and kept swinging between “I’m an absolute idiot” and “I’m the smartest person alive” every few minutes.

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I absolutely love this game. Every couple of years, I replay it once I’ve forgotten most of the details.

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Merrill said:
I absolutely love this game. Every couple of years, I replay it once I’ve forgotten most of the details.

Really? I thought it wouldn’t be replayable since you’d already know the ‘plot.’

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@Kirby
That’s when you bring in friends to play it while you watch. It’s like experiencing it all over again.

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Merrill said:
@Kirby
That’s when you bring in friends to play it while you watch. It’s like experiencing it all over again.

Grabs the book and writes down notes.

14

This is one of those games I wish I could erase from my memory just to experience it fresh again.

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I wish there were more games like this. It should be its own genre.

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Florence said:
I wish there were more games like this. It should be its own genre.

You might enjoy The Case of the Golden Idol, Chants of Sennaar, and Shadows of Doubt.

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“You bastards may take…exactly what I give you.”—A man who’s done putting up with nonsense.

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I think it’s fine to share the basic premise—you figure it out in the first few minutes anyway. A ship comes back to port with no one on board, and as an insurance investigator, you’re tasked with finding out what happened. You use a magic watch that lets you explore the moment of someone’s death in a 3D environment with audio. You piece together who everyone is, their role on the ship, and how they died. This game made me feel like a real detective, and I loved every second of it. I’d love a sequel in a new setting.

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If you’re looking for something with a similar vibe, check out Gorogoa. It’s quite different but still amazing.

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I really wish they’d port it to VR. That would be incredible.