Lil' Guardsman (2024)

Developer: Hilltop Studios
Publisher: Versus Evil, tinyBuild
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Genres: Adventure, Casual, Indie
Rating: 4.7 of 5, 1,269 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 10 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A charming, low-stakes deduction game where you question colourful fantasy characters and decide their fate with playful, often comedic consequences.

lightheartedwhimsicalcutefunnyfamily friendlydeduction focusedconversational

What players say

Players call it a lighter, comedic take on Papers, Please where time pressure is replaced by limited tool uses per visitor. The writing and voice acting get consistent praise, but some feel the choices that matter are few and the story railroads toward set outcomes.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.