When Hindsight ($4.99), the brand new recreation from Prune developer Joel McDonald, was introduced for a number of platforms, together with iOS, I used to be fairly excited to expertise it. Being printed by Annapurna Interactive is often a terrific signal, however what actually had me excited for Hindsight is how it might inform its story. I’ve performed many interactive narrative adventures which have a memorable story, however don’t actually do a lot with interplay. These experiences are price your time, however I’m at all times hoping to see somebody do extra. That is the place Hindsight shocked me. I’ve now skilled it on each Nintendo Change and iOS for this overview, however will deal with the iOS model performed on my iPhone 11 and iPad Professional (2020).

Hindsight is a brief narrative-driven expertise that includes interacting with numerous objects and places to expertise reminiscences. It focuses on a particular lady’s life from beginning till the current day. It includes a variety of grief and emotion. It’s at all times onerous to speak a few story in a recreation like this with out stepping into spoilers, however I’ll say that it is likely one of the finest tales in a recreation this 12 months. It excels in the way it takes you thru completely different levels whereas supplying you with a glimmer of hope.

The precise recreation includes mild puzzles that contain transferring the digital camera or objects in a particular technique to head to the following location or story beat. I like how this retains you interacting once in a while whereas listening to the narration and experiencing the story. I additionally appreciated nearly each location and interplay lots in Hindsight. I wished to be as spoiler-free as potential on this overview, however the ethereal really feel among the motion and sequences listed below are superb. I don’t know the way it might stay recent, however I’d like to see extra tales advised like this from the identical workforce.

Whereas the story and artwork in Hindsight are nice, it’s elevated by the music and narration. Having performed Hindsight a couple of days earlier than launch, I used to be ready for it to launch on Steam so I might purchase the recreation and soundtrack bundle. The music from Kyle Preston is superb.

Relating to management choices, Hindsight is finest performed with a touchscreen even in case you play on Nintendo Change. It feels good with contact controls. When you do need to play with a controller, the builders have accomplished a very good job translating this recreation to a controller. The iOS model additionally has full controller assist with rumble assist and different controller choices. The screenshot beneath is from when you will have a controller paired. I used my PS5 DualSense controller.

My solely grievance with Hindsight on iOS is with the way it doesn’t have correct save states. I’ve misplaced progress when swapping to a different app and coming again later. This isn’t a dealbreaker given the quick runtime of about 2 hours, however I’d advocate taking part in Hindsight in a single sitting in case you can to get probably the most out of it. The quick runtime would possibly put some off although.

Having performed Hindsight on each iOS and Change, the iOS model is certainly the way in which to go. It has the identical options together with controller assist, however runs at the next decision and is a 3rd of the worth. I didn’t know the way a lot Hindsight was going to value after I performed it on iOS, however knew the Change model’s value level. The sport itself is certainly well worth the asking value, however when you have the choice, the cellular model is best. When you do need to get it on Change, that model additionally has full contact assist, which is at all times good to see in Change variations.

Regardless of the minor points I’ve with the sport’s iOS model, Hindsight is a vital in case you take pleasure in emotional narratives. I like the way it always has you interacting even with easy swipes as you expertise nice narration, music, and a memorable story. When you take pleasure in quick tales, Hindsight is completely price your time and certainly one of my favourite tales in gaming this 12 months. That is additionally my favourite recreation from Joel McDonald now, above Prune.