Can you discover the answer to the puzzle in Stranded?

Peter Moorhead and Curve Studios have recently released an homage to classic point-and-click adventure titles by the name of Stranded. The game’s premise is simple: You awaken from cryostasis to discover that your ship has crashed down on an uncharted planet.

Your ship is in pieces, with shards of platinum-iridium alloy dotting the alien sand, and the wind is passing over dead hydrocolliders. There is no way of knowing how long the vessel has been in this state or even what caused the crash. In fact, the only thing you know for certain is that time is running out.

The title is an exploration-based adventure game that allows you to explore the wasteland of the alien planet. You are free to discover the story behind the game’s environment without any clear-cut objectives or statistics.

That said, you shouldn’t think that once you have explored the map there is nothing left to do. What occurs on each screen actually changes as you rest and quit the game. For example, there is a cliff overlooking a sea by your ship. The first time I went there, nothing seemed important. I went back later, however, and witnessed one of the strange aliens walking into the sea, apparently committing suicide.

The game also features different endings. Which ending you obtain depends on whether you solve the game’s puzzle or not.

Overall the game is a fitting tribute to classic point-and-click adventures, but it is definitely not a title for everybody. Many may feel confused and even somewhat bored as they continually explore the same locations, even though things do change in these locations.

Final Score: 3/5