Phoenix Springs Review - A Psychedelic Neo-Noir Game That Made Me Rethink Point-and-Click Adventures
Discover why Phoenix Springs turned me into a point-and-click fan. In this review, I explore its captivating story, stunning visuals, and immersive world of this new indie game.
Hello Everyone and welcome to the latest Good Game Lobby Review. Your brother has gone missing, and you must use your skills as a reporter to investigate where he is and what has happened to him. Let’s explore in my review of Phoenix Springs, a psychedelic point-and-click neo-noir game.
A Psychedelic Noir Mystery
The team behind Phoenix Springs, Calligram Studios, is an art collective, and it’s fitting that the name “Calligram” refers to a poem, phrase, or word arranged to create a visual image because, together, this collective has crafted a uniquely stylish indie point-and-click game—a genre I typically avoid—but one that has completely changed my perspective.
Let’s get into the story to find out why Phoenix Springs has become one of my must-play games of 2024.
Iris’s Descent
In Phoenix Springs, the protagonist, Iris Dormer, is a reporter searching for her estranged brother, Leo. A bioethicist, Leo’s mysterious disappearance raises more questions than answers. As Iris delves deeper into her investigation, she traces various stages of his life—from his early years and academic career to his affluent lifestyle, ultimately leading her to the desert oasis of Phoenix Springs.
The deeper she goes into Phoenix Springs and the almost cult-like community it houses, she uncovers the deeper connection between her brother's life and how she is tied to this world. The game’s story touches on technology and its overall troubles to connect in a truly immersive affair.
Without spoiling anything big, expect to climb deeper into the rabbit hole, where NPCs speak cryptically, your brother’s life grows more complex, and you realize your role in the mystery is far bigger than expected.
A Fresh Take on Point-and-Click
Now that you have the premise, let’s get into how you use Iris’s investigative skills to get to the bottom of what happened to Leo.
You have a limited number of prompts when interacting with points of interest. The menu gives you three choices: Talk To, Look At, or Use. Once you unlock an item in your investigation, you can, for example, Talk To someone ABOUT a person, phrase, or item. Early on, you speak to an older gentleman, a neighbor of Leo’s, and use the prompt Talk To to ask him about the locked padlock, Leo, and their connection.
Instead of gathering items or tools like most point-and-click adventures, you collect evidence or even concepts that you build on as you investigate. That gave me a breath of fresh air because, as I mentioned, point-and-click is a genre I distance myself from, with cumbersome inventory systems being a major reason.
Each progression brings new puzzles, requiring you to break down subtle clues that invite more investigation or point directly to the next clue. Listening to what others say and how Iris interprets clues is critical—one wrong move could mean repeating a process or missing the next story progression entirely.
Iris herself becomes as much of a puzzle as the plot thickens and the connections to her brother’s estranged life grow deeper.
A Living Canvas
When I first saw a trailer for the game, I was stunned by the visuals and pushed past my hesitation about the genre. I’m glad I did.
The hand-drawn style feels like picturesque GIFs that breathe with subtle, looping motion—even when characters or objects are still. For instance, a hand reaching for something has a few repeating frames. It’s a style I personally use when animating my own work. The color palette, whether in day or night scenes, beautifully represents the environment.
The environments stand front and center as Iris uses her cunning reporter skill set, speaking with people around her brother’s old stomping grounds, investigating his lavish home, the abandoned, zombie-drugged-out university where he worked, and the lush oasis of Phoenix Springs, hidden in the desolate desert. Each new area is set like a painting waiting to be explored. Cinematics add depth with subtle animations in the characters and areas you interact with.
Echoes and Voices
The main menu features a haunting choir whose vocals crescendo and fade into the background, looping almost like the memories you uncover. It sets the overall tone and feels like stepping into a movie. Here it is in all its glory:
At times, there’s no music at all, with a bigger focus on environmental sounds: birds and crickets in the lush oasis, wind blowing through the desert, or the hum of indoor lights. The soundtrack shifts story beats effectively.
Iris’s voice acting is dark and monotone, fitting the noir detective style. Her tone sets the mood, whether it’s a simple line or a response to a mistaken action. For instance, if you try to “USE” a person, Iris might respond with a confused or dismissive remark.
Alex Alexander Crow’s voice work truly brings Iris to life. It’s no surprise that composer and sound designer Alexander Smith excels in this game—he also designs synthesizers! The creative talents of Calligram Studios shine across every aspect of Phoenix Springs. Here’s a piece from the soundtrack that deeply moved me. It is not only a beautiful synth heavy instrumental but one of my favorite songs from gaming soundtracks this year. Enjoy!
Why Phoenix Springs Shines
Point-and-click games have never been in my repertoire. In fact, I’ve avoided them almost my entire life. What I want to congratulate Calligram Studios on with Phoenix Springs is the visual representation and marketing of the game. It’s been a great year of games especially those I had a chance to review where the main protagonist is a female lead from Caravan SandWitch, Arranger: A Role Puzzling Adventure, Mika and the Witchs Mountain, and Été. Phoenix Springs is in great company.
The visuals connected me to something deeper. The hand-drawn style, combined with the green-and-yellow color palette, pulled me into the world of Phoenix Springs. Together with the eerie sound design and minimalist inventory, the game offers a uniquely charming indie experience.
I can’t compare it to other point-and-clicks because I haven’t played many, but as the first one I’ve genuinely enjoyed, I’m looking forward to exploring the genre further. Please share your favorite point-and-click games in the comments—I’d love to broaden my horizons.
Phoenix Springs is a must-play indie game with rich artistic illustration, haunting sound design, and a noir world that has already made it a critically acclaimed hit of 2024.
🎮Phoenix Springs | Steam |
🎶Phoenix Springs Soundtrack | Bandcamp
🗓️Release Date | Out Now!
I've been wondering if I should get this. Good review - you've convinced me!
I'd not heard of this and it looks amazing. Thanks for writing about it. Conveniently it just went on sale on Steam, too.
Other recommendations: I enjoyed Unavowed, which I played through when I had COVID in 2021. Old school in some ways, but with a strong narrative.
The remakes of Monkey Island 1 and 2 are good, but the recent Return to Monkey Island is something rather special, I thought.