Lydia

I was impressed with the overall design of the game. In its short playtime, "Lydia" covers a fair amount of emotionally treacherous ground.

It’s one of the most emotionally impactful games to grace the Switch since its launch nearly three years ago.

A sad but moving piece that will make you think for far longer than the time it takes to experience it.

Lydia is not so much a game as it is a public service announcement about the risks of alcohol, delivered through the medium of the eShop. The dark subject matter is at times well outlined by some bleak and surreal imagery, but it’s discussed in such a blunt manner that even a powerful ending leaves the story feeling less poignant and more thoroughly miserable. There will be those who can forgive the complete lack of gameplay in the face of raising such an important topic, and while I applaud the intention and understand the gravity of its creation, I find it hard to advocate anyone taking on 45 minutes of pure distilled depression, topped with a smattering of trauma.

Lydia is an interactive story telling point and click, the story of a young girl surrounded by substance abuse. The game is short, and from that, the scenes of the narrative can blur and become confusing in which message it is trying to convey. Visually pleasing, and delivers a good atmospheric dark tone, but difficult to recommend for ‘fun’. However, this is an important game in the awareness of substance abuse.

Lydia, more than a game, is a narrative experience. It boasts a great artistic and sound section, but does not offer much more. It is no more than a curiosity if you do not 'click' with their story. Still, for the price it has, it can be an interesting thing to try.

Lydia is a dark point and click adventure game about child abuse.

Short, sweet, and to the point, Lydia makes for a memorable and engaging hour of gameplay. Its story of abuse will prove uncomfortable, but a restrained hand ensures audiences never have to confront anything too visceral through gameplay. There isn't much in the way of replayability, but a well told story, plus an excellent visual style make Lydia a worthwhile play-through for anyone looking for something emotionally dense.

Games, often have us talking about joy, about the things which made us feel like we’re having fun or experiencing something new. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, the game at hand, Lydia, is something which feels new, and it is pushing the boundaries of games, in the best of ways. Because of the sensitive content it requires some resolve to get through, but it is a masterpiece. It's a powerful and beautiful game, one that leaves an everlasting impression.

Lydia is a game with two faces. One face tells you a compelling story about the heavy subject of alcoholism from the perspective of a child. The other face is a game that is short and doesn't keep the pace how it should. As a package it offers an interesting hour to spend, especially for the very low price it comes at.