Did you ever want to play a video game that was kinda like Stranger Things, but instead the kids are anthropomorphic animals and the bad guys are evil corporations instead of whatever the heck Vecna is? How about a game that feels like cozying up next to a fireplace on a cold winter night, wrapped in a warm blanket while reading a lighthearted, spooky mystery novel? Well, if that very specific thing is what you’re looking for, then let me introduce you to Beacon Pines. 

Developed by Hidden Spot Games and published by Fellow Traveller, Beacon Pines is a choice-driven, narrative adventure game that tells the story of Luka VanHorn, a young deer-boy who lives with his grandmother in the small town of Beacon Pines after his father passed away and his mother mysteriously disappeared. He spends his days with his best friend, Rolo, who is a…tiger? Fox? I’m not sure, but he’s adorable, and the two are tied at the hip, either playing space commanders in their treehouse or causing mischief around town. Eventually, the two come across an abandoned warehouse where they see an odd substance being prepared by eerie figures in hazmat suits. After almost being caught, the two set off to unravel the secrets hiding in their town’s underbelly, teaming up with the new girl in town, Beck, in the process. 

The primary gameplay loop of Beacon Pines is that of your average narrative-adventure game. You’ll walk from place to place, taking in the gorgeous artwork as you talk to the town’s residents. As you do, you’ll get “Charms,” which are used for the choices you’ll have to make during key story beats. The charm you choose will create a new branch in the story tree, leading to different events, which, of course, means alternate endings. Though this mechanic is interesting, and I was excited to see the different endings my charms would lead to, there really isn’t much actual choice, because the story only has one true ending, which the game deliberately guides you towards.

Every false ending simply has the narrator (who, by the way, is great in voicing the storybook cutscenes) tell you, in some fashion or another, “This can’t be how it ends! Go back and choose a different charm, ya doofus!” As such, the playing experience feels as though the developers are simply taking you through a guided experience with the illusion of choice. Still, I can’t say I wasn’t enraptured by the story being told and all of the characters involved. 

Beacon Pines is a perfectly cozy six-hour experience with a beautiful art style and a solid, coming-of-age mystery story that’s well worth your time.     

Be sure to check out the video versions of Pixel’s Picks on YouTube!