Videoverse (Demo)

Play it on: Windows, macOS, Linux

My current goal: Just, like, absorbing those early internet vibes, man

Lately I’ve been getting back into big games in a big way. Jedi: Survivor and, especially, Tears of the Kingdom both absorbed me with their epic adventures and their wounded swordsman protagonists. But it’s wonderful, in the midst of all these colossal budgets and vast worlds, to be reminded of the special power and intimacy of a really great, handcrafted smaller game. I recently played a demo for a game called Videoverse, due out later this year from Kinmoku Games (makers of One Night Stand), and I think it could end up being one of this fall’s real gems.

Videoverse takes place in a closed network of message boards accessed by players on the Kinmoku Shark, a fictional early 2000s video game console. As a Kinmoku enthusiast named Emmett, you browse the boards for series like Feudal Fantasy, chatting about the games with your friends, admiring fan art, and maybe occasionally encountering a troll or two. What makes it all sing is just how right so many of the details are, how real and fleshed-out so many of the personalities feel, and how lovely and evocative the game’s art is. In this era when it feels like everything about the internet is getting worse, Videoverse seems poised to be a heartfelt trip back to the days when warmth, connection, and community were easier to find. I definitely recommend giving the demo a whirl this weekend. — Carolyn Petit