Pentiment (2022)

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Adventure, Casual
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 9,533 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 18 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 slow, contemplative historical investigation where every choice weighs heavily on the fate of a small community.

atmosphericdeliberatethoughtfulimmersivetext-heavystylizedmeditativemysterious

What players say

Players praise the writing and art, comparing it to a living history book. The game is dialogue-heavy and slow, with a murder mystery that takes a backseat to deeper themes. Some find the constant roaming tedious, and players split on whether it would work better as a visual novel.

Screenshots

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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.