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 classics that deserve another 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!

Inmost

Developed by Lithuanian studio Hidden Layer Games and published by Chucklefish, Inmost is a narrative-driven 2D puzzle-platformer that has you play as three characters who are all woven into one overarching story. A story that’s equally harrowing as it is beautiful and poetic. Thematically, Inmost’s narrative illustrates the depths of pain and how characters deal with the heaviness of loss. From the unrelenting anguish to the venomous anger that we’re capable of unleashing in order to somehow make sense of our loss. Hidde Layer Games have carved this story about mental health with the utmost care, in a world that’s brought to life with beautiful pixel art that perfectly captures the tone of the game.

Aftersun

A semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama written and directed by Charlotte Wells, Aftersun tells the story of 11-year-old Sophia and her dad Callum, played by Paul Mescal, during their time on a Turkish holiday. The hour-and-a-half runtime of the film consists of fairly banal activities between Sophie and her dad doing what tourists in a foreign land do; inter-spliced with moments of curiosity by Sophie as she films her dad with an old-timey camcorder and takes interest with older kids and the goings-on of other tourists.

However, it’s in the silent moments both between the characters and during their times of lonesome that we see the ocean of history and emotions that are bubbling underneath their surface. Paul Mescal delivers what I can only describe as one of the most poignant performances I’ve seen in recent years. His ability to showcase the anxiety, melancholia, and tints of depression that weigh heavily on Callum with a stillness and silence is something special to behold. It’s a film that says so much, yet restrains itself from showing almost anything at all, trusting that the actors behind the lens will give us all that we need, and it’s brilliant for it.

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