The Rewinder

For several years now, Chinese video games have grown into a global phenomenon. Many Chinese-made games today succeed in both Eastern and Western circles, and The Rewinder, an upcoming title being developed by Misty Mountain Studio and published by Gamera Game, could be very much the next Chinese title to get a lot of positive feedback. The premise is quite simple – you will be planted into a rich world of Chinese mythology, where you’ll face off against numerous famous deities, monsters, and spirits from these tales. You’ll take on the role of an “agent” who assists the dead in being reborn, returning them to the cycle of life. With a very interesting style, promises to offer an intriguing adventure-puzzle experience that is sure to make you think.

Enter a new journal of fantastical folklore

While many forms of mythology have been done to near-perfection in video gaming, Chinese mythology is often less considered. With a huge increase in Chinese audiences for gaming, though, this is changing. The Rewinder looks to build on that by offering a story where you take on the role of aforementioned agent Qi Yun. Your job is to ensure that you preserve the art of the Rewinders, of which you are the last.

You will communicate and interact with spirits, working through their memories to ensure that the past can be improved upon. From the Ox-Headed Horse-Faced Raksasa to The Twin Spirit, you will face up to various legends of Chinese mythology. Can you use your puzzle solving skills to offer a happier ending than the one which has already played out? That is the aim of the game with The Rewinder, which looks set to be one of the most thought-provoking releases of 2021. Given this is a puzzle game set in a 2D style, some will instantly point to the likes of Thimbleweed Park. This, though, looks very different – something developed in its own image entirely.

Adventure puzzle gaming with a whole new twist (?/10)

Set for release before the end of 2021, The Rewinder looks set to inject a lot of life into a very popular game style. 2D adventure games will always have an audience, but this does an even better job of showing how varied that audience can be. This is the kind of game that narrative lovers will enjoy every bit as much as those who love deep story and/or exploring different cultural mythologies.

The whole aspect of The Rewinder is built around helping you to reflect and to think a little further about what you are doing. While there are demos of the game (which play excellently), the only concern at the moment around The Rewinder is whether or not it will retain enough freshness and variance from spirit to spirit.

Pros:

• Interesting gameplay style that focuses primarily on puzzle solving
• Engaging art and gameplay style that link together perfectly
• Encouraging, open-minded approach to explaining deep mythology

Cons:

• Not enough information available (yet) on the variety of spirits and puzzles