As a linguistics nerd, I really wanted to love this game. While it is indeed beautiful and fun for what it is, it has fundamental issues that make me unable to wholeheartedly recommend it.

The main problem is the core of the game: the languages. They are so simplistic that it feels like the game is insulting your intelligence. Languages 1 and 2 have no real defining features. Language 3 is the coolest with OSV word order, but since it’s translated literally, the player doesn’t deduce it themselves, so it’s a waste. Language 4 has a unique number system… but that’s all. Language 5 is by far the biggest disappointment as it’s pretty much automatically deciphered and there’s nothing special about it. There is a severe lack of interesting linguistic features for a game that’s supposed to be focused on languages.

There are other problems too. The journal is too rigid and doesn’t allow the player to actually figure things out themselves, and you can’t really take any notes of your own aside from guessing what a word is. The stealth/chase sections are kind of a weird addition and took me out of the game. Running around is sometimes tedious especially with the lack of a map. The lore is not really well explained (like what’s up with the monster? What is the motivation of the exile machine? It’s never explained).

Overall it’s just a letdown. While translation games are a very small niche and any addition is welcome, I hope for future games to be more substantial than this.

As a linguistics nerd, I really wanted to love this game. While it is indeed beautiful and fun for what it is, it has fundamental issues that make me unable to wholeheartedly recommend it. The main problem is the core of the game: the languages. They are so simplistic that it feels like the game is insulting your intelligence. Languages 1 and 2 have no real defining features. Language 3 is the coolest with OSV word order, but since it’s translated literally, the player doesn’t deduce it themselves, so it’s a waste. Language 4 has a unique number system… but that’s all. Language 5 is by far the biggest disappointment as it’s pretty much automatically deciphered and there’s nothing special about it. There is a severe lack of interesting linguistic features for a game that’s supposed to be focused on languages. There are other problems too. The journal is too rigid and doesn’t allow the player to actually figure things out themselves, and you can’t really take any notes of your own aside from guessing what a word is. The stealth/chase sections are kind of a weird addition and took me out of the game. Running around is sometimes tedious especially with the lack of a map. The lore is not really well explained (like what’s up with the monster? What is the motivation of the exile machine? It’s never explained). Overall it’s just a letdown. While translation games are a very small niche and any addition is welcome, I hope for future games to be more substantial than this.