I don’t think I’ve ever written a review. This game was so good that I’m compelled to tell everyone else how great it is. I’ve played through so many other point and click puzzle games including Meridian 157 and this is truly one of the best ones out there. The puzzles are challenging yet doable. I felt like every puzzle or clue led nicely into the next one so I never felt frustrated by a dead end. The length of the game is really impressive as well, so you’re definitely getting your money’s worth. The story was also engaging and cohesive and had just enough mystery to keep me on edge. It’s a little annoying to click through so many different scenes to get from one to the next since the game doesn’t use a map, but also it gives that feel of a man just walking through the woods by himself so I’m really not complaining that much. One detail I’ve always liked from these games is the narrators thoughts. They add a lot of life to the character and the thoughts are like mini hints to either stop searching and move on or keep doing something, which I find really helpful. And just as an added bonus the amazing art, music, and sound effects make the whole game that much more immersive and enjoyable to play. Overall this game is fantastic and as a self-certified point and click escape room game expert I recommend you get it.

I’ve really been waiting for this sequel, checking the App Store almost weekly, so I was excited to play this game. I liked that it was longer than the first chapter, took me a few days playing a couple hours each day on hard mode, well worth the $My one complaint is that in normal mode you get hints and easier puzzles, and in hard mode you don’t get either. I like the harder puzzles but every now and then I’d like the option of a hint when I’m stuck without reducing the puzzle difficulty. Wish there was a “custom” setting where you could keep hints on with hard puzzles. I just switched back and forth between hard and normal when I needed a hint but it would be nice to not have to. I also wish we got a little bit more lore/story but I can respect the slow burn. These are pretty minor issues, and I still loved the game. The atmosphere, mechanics and cutscenes were all smooth, no bugs or glitches at all. Now I’m bummed that it’s over though…gotta go back to game purgatory waiting for chapter 3.

Loved the Meridian series, and I’m absolutely adoring Aurora Hills so far! The puzzles are challenging and they make you think, but not super difficult. I love the hint system and the option to skip puzzles if you ever get burnt out by a puzzle. The visuals and the ambiance are awesome, as well as the hint system! I also love the mysterious story behind the game - I really want to uncover what happened to Jennifer, and why so many campers have disappeared in this place. It’s not a horror game, but there’s definitely a little creepiness to it as you move along your journey. My only suggestion would be to add a feature where you can crop out the pictures you take so you can look at them while you solve the puzzles (if that makes sense?) as well as a way to maybe hide the inventory sidebar and buttons, as it does take up space. Other than that, the game is top notch and I highly recommend all the games from this company to those who enjoy this genre.

NovaSoft is the only developer I follow on social media, and I was thrilled to see when they announced a new chapter of Aurora Hills! That excitement was absolutely justified because like part 1, this game has gorgeous visuals and mostly intuitive gameplay. (With that said, there’s one area in the final bit which is not intuitive, where you have to use the ‘go back’ arrow to explore a new area. Minor quibble.)The puzzles are a mix of ‘solve by finding clues’ and mechanical puzzles, which keeps the game from feeling predictable. I like that the hints (magnifying glass) are given in steps so it can help you get started on a solution without being all-or-nothing like some games tend to be. Within a puzzle, the magnifying glass will even tell you if you don’t have enough information to solve it. Outside of a puzzle, the hints are more sparse but the game is not about ‘gotchas’ or pixel hunting so it’s not hard to progress. Plus the game has a task list to help you remember what to do.The storyline is also compelling, and I think it is served fantastically by the technical aspects mentioned above. However, even if the story ended up being a dud, the overall gameplay is so excellent that it would be hard for me to walk away feeling disappointed from this series. I can’t believe how small the team is with the quality of writing, design, props, environment, and gameplay. I look forward to anything NovaSoft puts out in the future!I rarely replay games like this, but I might go back through the entire catalogue because it’s so hard to find games of similar caliber. I think this belongs in the escape/puzzle game canon like The Room.