Every week here at Pixel Swish we recommend a movie or video game 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 weekly pick 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 pick!

Harold Halibut

“Have I been useful, at all? What have I really done? What if we’re all doing the wrong thing anyway?” These are questions Harold, the protagonist of Harold Halibut, a 2024 indie game developed by Slow Bros, asks while in a dream-like state talking to his newfound alien fish friend as his body drifts between the living and the dead. Questions that have bubbled to the surface after he’d spent his life serving his fellow humans aboard a sunken spaceship that’s been stranded beneath the ocean of an uninhabitable alien planet for more than fifty years.    

As a video game, Harold Halibut is fairly simple. It’s a linear adventure game that has you trek between the different interior districts within the Fedora I, talking to its cooky residents and helping them with menial tasks like delivering packages. As you play, you unravel some of the deeper mysteries of Fedora’s history as well as form unlikely friendships. The game is brought to life by a wonderfully vivid stop-motion art style reminiscent of the classic Wallace and Gromit film series and does a great job of creating a distinct atmosphere. 

Even though the gameplay became incredibly tedious towards the end, and some of the themes and plot elements weren’t explored to the breadth of their potential, leading to their payoffs being somewhat lacklustre, I still found myself being moved by the questions Harold Halibut posed at the end of my time with it. Questions of purpose, progress, and the need for community, which should never be compromised for the sake of this insatiable greed for constant progress and modernity. It’s also impactful that these questions are asked by a protagonist who’s not some hero or saviour but rather just a guy who’s doing his not-so-fancy job. I also loved the connection Harold formed with a character who comes in later and plays a critical role in the game; it was very endearing to witness and the relationship acts as the emotional core of Harold’s character. 

Harold Halibut is not a perfect game by any means, and it would have likely been better off as an animated film. Yet, I do think having it be a video game and having to, as the player, trudge through much of its banality actually makes you feel closer to its overarching themes and characters. If you have Game Pass, it’s a title that’s well worth checking out.