REVIEW / Aarik and the Fallen Empire

Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom is an intriguing puzzle game with a unique twist, brought to us by the indie developer Shatterproof Games. At the heart of this game lies Aarik, a young prince who finds himself in quite a predicament: his father has taken ill, his mother is nowhere to be found, and, unsurprisingly, his kingdom is in ruins. But don’t worry, Aarik is armed with the king’s crown, and through a series of cleverly designed isometric levels that twist and turn, he seeks a way forward.

As you step into Aarik’s shoes, you’ll uncover crystals throughout your adventure, each bestowing unique powers to help Aarik on his quest. These vibrant gems come in four distinct colors, each offering different abilities: you can rewind time to rebuild what was destroyed, move towers with ease, or even control robotic allies. These abilities not only add a layer of excitement to the puzzles but also segment the game into unique chapters.

Stepping into the world of Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom, you’ll find a game built around a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. The calming soundtrack and straightforward puzzles are intentionally designed to provide a relaxing experience rather than a mind-bending challenge. The developers at Shatterproof Games intentionally crafted Aarik to be a game that you can unwind with. Across the couple of hours it takes to reach the end of this adventure, I never encountered a puzzle that left me scratching my head for too long.

Of course, no journey is without its bumps. The only real challenges in this quest to restore Aarik’s kingdom came from occasional issues with controls. Certain powers had a tendency to be temperamental. For instance, the robot control ability sometimes switched off unexpectedly, aligning blocks with telekinesis required precision that was hard to achieve, and the time-rewind feature was a tad finicky when it came to aligning paths just right. Though these hiccups were minor, they did put a slight damper on an otherwise engaging experience.

In essence, Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom presents a relaxing journey, one that’s comfortably completed in a single sitting. Its charming visuals and soothing music complement this quaint adventure beautifully, ensuring it does not overstay its welcome. The introduction of crystal powers spices up the gameplay, but their somewhat finicky nature could occasionally lead to mild frustration.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher and offers an honest take on the overall experience. Certainly, some puzzles bring a refreshing tranquility to Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom, but a few elements of the gameplay could use a bit of fine-tuning. Ultimately, for those who enjoy a leisurely puzzle game with beautiful aesthetics, this title is worth a play—just be prepared for a couple of ups and downs. Overall, I’d rate this charming adventure a solid 6 out of 10.