Parents' Guide to Unavowed

This expertly-crafted supernatural adventure stands out from other retro-themed adventures with its handling of mature content that keeps you playing for hours. Unavowed features a cast of quirky characters, a dark sense of humor, a collection of clever puzzles, and a story that makes you want to play the whole game in one sitting.

A big reason the game is so engaging are the secondary characters. As the story progresses, the Unavowed take on four new recruits, and you're tasked with bringing two of them with you wherever you go. Ultimately, that's a good thing, because different situations require different skills. Some might require someone who can make fireballs; others might need someone who can pass through walls or wield a sword. This character skill mechanic works so well (and creates different story outcomes depending on who's with you) that you'll take its complicated execution for granted, and that's as it should be. In fact, the overall experience is so polished and controls the flow of clues and information so well, you'll feel smarter than you probably are. But be ready: Your intelligence gets to battle it out with your emotions when you're presented with making tough, often downright gut-wrenching decisions. Fortunately, the glorious pixel art, beautiful character portraits, wry humor (the snotty hipster donut shop owner is genius), and solid voice acting ease the pain. And while it's true that Unavowed's language and subject matter make it a bit too gritty for kids and tweens, its audiovisual, gameplay, and narrative triumphs make it a quality choice for your family's older adventure gamers.