Lost Ember

Sometimes in games, as in life, it's more about appreciating the journey for all it is rather than focusing on how you got there. Lost Ember is one of those games, giving players a beautiful stage on which they're told an engaging story. More impressive is that it manages to do this in spite of clunky controls and some irritating navigation issues. There's not a lot of precision in the movement, but there's usually not a lot required. What's more frustrating is running into an invisible wall while exploring a game world that looks much more open than it actually is.

In the grand scheme of things, Lost Ember's technical issues are more minor nuisances than anything, only slightly dinging an otherwise wonderful experience. The game looks amazing, dropping players into a vibrant world that's teeming with life. Left to their own devices, the various animals move around and have their own personalities. Possessing animals gives players the opportunity to open their imaginations and visualize what life is like for these creatures. Thankfully, these lighthearted moments are around to help balance the weight and drama of the game's primary plot. As the characters' memories return, an emotional story unfolds about just how these characters were connected before the fall of civilization, and it's a harsh look at the full range of what humans are capable of. Overall, there are some deep themes touched upon in Lost Ember, and parents may need to help explain certain issues while opening up a discussion about human nature and how impactful certain decisions can be.