Every week here at Pixel Swish we recommend movies or video games that we feel should be a part of everyone’s play/watchlist; giving you our quick thoughts on what makes them special. These titles could either be hidden gems that not many may have heard of or obscure classics that deserve a spotlight. So if you’re ever at a loss come Friday evening on what to watch or play during the weekend, consider checking out our list as we post every Friday. We also post video versions of this series on TikTok and YouTube so be sure to follow us there to keep updated. Without further ado, let’s get into this week’s picks!

Norco

Released in 2022, Norco is a point-and-click adventure game developed by Geography of Robots. The game was originally intended to be a part of a documentary project showcasing Louisiana after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina but was eventually expanded into a full game. You play as Kay, a young woman returning to her home set in a dystopian, futuristic version of Norco, Louisiana after she gets news of her mother’s passing. After going through old pictures and knick-knacks of your childhood home, you then set off to find your brother, who’s gone missing and whom you haven’t spoken to in years. It’s during this search that you find yourself unearthing the dark mysteries of your mother’s past and of the town of Norco itself.

There is a remarkable amount of detail to Norco the place that makes every scene, every vignette, ooze with history. The developers haven’t simply made a setting for their story and characters to exist in, no, Norco, Louisiana is tattooed to the game’s story and themes. Speaking of which, the game doesn’t shy away from tackling poignant political issues pertaining to industrialization and its effects on the environment and marginalized citizens. This is a masterfully written video game that beautifully wades through an array of humanistic themes of loneliness, loss, and trauma while ensuring the use of those character moments consistently highlights the broader sociopolitical issues and their impacts on people; doing so through an impeccable visual presentation that perfectly captures the gritty flare of the American South.

Mutzione

Keeping in theme with sci-fi set in a vivid and strange world with another female protagonist whose name begins with a “K,” Mutazione is a 2019 adventure game that has you play as Kai, who visits an island during one summer to see her dying grandfather. The game is best described as one one-part gardening simulator and one-part choice-driven visual novel that has you entangled in small-town gossip. All the characters are strange, mutated monsters yet have incredibly human, everyday problems that you have to help navigate. There’s a wonderful serenity to the game as you flow from listening to your garden sing as you work to keep it growing, to helping this cast of quirky and endearing characters find answers to their very human problems.

Have you played either of these games? Let us know in the comments below. That’s it for this week, thanks for reading and we’ll see you next Friday!