Recent reviews by Njal

The Room 4: Old Sins feels like the definitive game in this series. The game is so well executed and a joy to experience. Having played through each game, it's easy to see how this 4th game is the culmination of all the developer's hard work and thoughtful design. These games are short (in a good way) and reasonably priced. Pick them up if you like spooky puzzles.

There are three aspects of The Room 4 that I'd like to praise specifically. First is the more efficient movement. At the end of the 3rd game, I remember feeling constrained by the slow, cinematic camera movements across large spaces that required specific navigation. This really became an issue when I wasn't sure what to do, but wanted to explore and experiment in many places. This 4th game makes moving to interactive locations much more efficient. Not only is the camera quicker now, but every inner room is directly connected to the outer hub space. No longer do you have to walk across a room, then into an elevator, then tell it to go down, then into a new room, then down a hallway, just to get back to the hub; instead you simply right-click indiscriminately a couple times and you're there. This might sound like a small detail, but it's a huge quality of life improvement and a result of smart design.

In a similar vein, I really like how this game handles closing off obsolete areas. Completing a room of the dollhouse already feels rewarding, but it also means closing a door connected to the hub. This does a great job of preventing needless backtracking and reduces opportunity for the player to feel lost. This is balanced perfectly with the interconnection of the rooms. Closing one door usually opens the next, and every currently open room plays a part in solving the next puzzle. I also want to mention how this is used on the small scale. When you've completed everything connected to a portion of a room, the game prevents you from zooming in on that section. As an example, when you finish all the puzzles in a desk, then the desk will pack itself up and no longer be interactable. If the game lets you interact and zoom in, then there's more to do in that space.

Lastly, I need to bring up the excellent setting. We're back in one "room" but with a vast dollhouse to explore. You get the best of both worlds: one big puzzle box, but also a host of interesting locations. It really feels like the perfect solution to balance the growing scope of these games. I also really appreciate the recursive nature of the ending sequence. And let's not forget to mention how great the game looks and sounds. The ambiance is fantastic.

It's safe to say that I'm eagerly anticipating the next game in this series. I've always been a big fan of point-and-click puzzle games and this is the best one I've played in a while. Keep up the great work, Fireproof Games!

I played this game back when it first came out and it still holds up well. Some parts are unusually difficult or annoying, but few games are nearly as creative. If you haven't played this before, give it a try! I would recommend using a controller, it's more comfortable.