Review: Everdeep Aurora for Switch

Two years ago—PAX West 2023. That’s where I stumbled upon this game, Everdeep Aurora. It’s got these super chill vibes. I mean, no enemies, just puzzles and exploring. I walked away thinking, “Whoa, gotta play this for real,” so here I am, diving in for a review.

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### Searching for Mother… kinda

So, the plot? Simple, but not really. You’re Shell, a kitten. Yes, a kitten. Looking for her mom while meteors are falling. Naturally, everyone’s hiding underground. You’ve got this drill to dig deeper and deeper. It’s like, why a kitten? Anyway, makes you think.

Then it gets bizarre. You meet NPCs—each one’s got its own drama. A lost dog, a frog with, uh, family issues, a sneaky snake, and otters (who knew otters could break up?). Solve their problems, get an upgrade. World’s friendliest kitten, right? Or maybe not. It’s a lot.

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### All Over the Place with Exploration

Man, this game—exploring is everything. You collect hats, random documents (everything needs lore, I guess), gems for your drill’s battery, and more containers for said battery. Super retro, like Game Boy Color level, but surprises everywhere. Dice games, crane stuff, computer puzzles, and these old-school cutscenes. It’s short, but you end up with multiple endings. Love a game that keeps you guessing.

But then, frustration city. No waypoint markers—seriously, none. You get lost like crazy. Helping characters is cool, but a radar? Pretty please? Oh, and no quest log. Great for someone with a memory like a sieve. NPCs need stuff, but good luck remembering it all. Some places don’t even show up on your map. It’s like “Where’s Waldo?” but with otters and post offices. And on the Switch? The screen jitters. Not a disaster, but kind of annoying. You’d think older hardware could handle it better.

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### Is It Worth the Bother?

Okay, so Everdeep Aurora. It’s a mixed bag for sure. Awesome music, killer graphics, and characters with depth. I love games where it’s all about discovery, no combat. But, the lack of guidance is a huge flaw. Just a few guidepoints, and it’d be a gem. As it is? Depends on your tolerance for getting lost in mazes. Would I do it again? Eh, maybe?

6.7/10 if I have to rate it like some kind of expert.

Chill exploration but, geez, throw us a bone with the guidance next time.