What would you regard as a game that has a timeless look?

My argument is titles like Limbo, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Valiant Hearts and Journey will still dazzle, wow and surprise years from now.

These are games that feel as if they’ve been built to last, their aesthetic near timeless. And it’s an interesting subject at a time when frames per second and 4K resolutions are dominating headlines for the biggest titles. Even more poignant at a time when we’re seeing more remasters and remakes than ever before.

Dordogne is another of those games I’m going to look at in ten years time – all being well – and still feel a little bit blown away by it. This game has an absolutely gorgeous pastel, watercolor art style that shines so brightly and looks truly beautiful in motion.

Made up like a little bit Hidden Object, a little bit Point and Click, and at times plays a bit like Professor Layton or Another Code Two Memories, all combined Dordogne still manages to feel incredibly fresh.

A young woman, Mimi, goes back to visit her grandmother’s home after years away and over the course of the game, relives memories from a summer they spent together.

Mimi has forgotten parts of her childhood, at times unsure of what she did that summer or what she saw, and it’s up to you to reignite those memories, uncovering some hidden truths about her family along the way.

It’s a moving story with many themes at play, featuring both events that precede Mimi’s life and ones that happened during. Through previously written letters, stunning photography and a trusty old binder that holds plenty of significance and artistic expression, the story unfolds like a beautiful picture book, slowly and gracefully.

As you find items as an adult, so you take a trip back in time to Mimi’s summer with her grandmother. And as a youngster, you’ll open more areas of interest for older you to explore. It’s a really clever way to direct the progression.

There’s a simplicity in the game’s mechanics as you take photos of your environments, place stickers in your binder and pick up words throughout each chapter so you can form your own poetry. Laying all of it out as you see fit.

But it’s the mystery surrounding Mimi’s family that drives the game forward as you want to learn more about her grandfather and parents. Fortunately, everything unfolds at a nice pace.

From Chapter to Chapter, the mechanics also change, from rowing a kayak to chatting to vendors at a market in order to catch a thief, to feeding a code into a machine after solving some audio clues. The game stays relevant, keeps itself fresh, and really touches at the heartstrings at every turn.

To accompany the breathtaking art is also a wonderful soundtrack that just soothes the soul, when it needs to, builds into tense moments but equally blends into the background at just the right time.

Dordogne is a stunning piece of work, art in its finest form and style that will surely stand the test of time but has enough interesting gameplay and story-wise that it could wind up on an award list or two come years end.

I did have some issue with the in-game text. From an accessibility point of view, there’s no way to enlarge it at present or to present it in a font that’s easier to read for some users. Without voice over for the letters either, this may mean some players won’t be able to experience the adventure, which is unfortunate.

I did also encounter some minor clipping during my playthrough, one where Mimi fell through the floor and another time where she got a bit stuck in a corner and there was some screen tearing. There are also some issues with the control with the pointer sometimes feeling slow and heavy as you drag it around and some actions taking an unnecessary length of time.

All that aside, Dordogne really took me by surprise. In my view, this watercolor wonder is one you should definitely make time for.

Verdict

Dordogne is a work of art in more ways than one. From its striking pastel art style, to the soundtrack, storytelling and even the way it blends its gameplay mechanics, this is one of 2023’s best surprises and outside of text accessibility, some minor texture clipping and heavy-handed controls, this is an unforgettable adventure that will put you through a rollercoaster of emotions.

Pros

+ One of the most beautiful art styles I’ve seen in any game
+ A well paced story that’s wonderfully complimented by enjoyable gameplay
+ Stunning soundtrack