Miniatures review – “Moments wrapped in a game”
- Short, bittersweet experience with four different chapters
- Each chapter feels emotional
- Something a little different
Emotional games are few and far between when it comes to what I play on my mobile phone. Miniatures, however, felt like something that piqued my curiosity, ever since I saw a demo at WASD in the Curios section. It felt like a curiosity – a box of trinkets where each one relays a different memory in someone’s life, something different to solve.
Miniatures isn’t a story-based experience, but each of the chapters does have its own story. You see, it’s broken down into four short stories, each told with a trinket that you can pick from a box. It’s a bite-sized experience that has you thinking about your past and relating to these different moments. Each one has a slightly different graphic style and take on gameplay, but they all feel connected in the fact that they are deep memories of someone – relatable, even if through stories of your friends.
One of the chapters, the one with the mother who was lost to the moon, is the best story-wise, having you drag along the screen to reveal more of what is happening. This part of Miniatures felt more straightforward, as we learn about the Moon and try to find our lost mother who might be hurt. There are small puzzles, moments where you interact with the screen to bring the story along, flowing beautifully together.
Another chapter has you repairing furniture with your family – an activity that starts out fun, if a little strict, but bends and twists as you fight with your sibling and then your parents fight with each other. This leaves a sort of furniture that showcases dysfunction. There are two other chapters, both beautifully done with one of them feeling more artsy, like a moment of imagination on a beach. I don’t want to spoil it too much – this entire thing can be played in a 20-minute car ride – but it’s worth playing if you like curiosity and meaningful moments.
None of the puzzles are particuluarly hard and most things can be done through trial and error. And I think that’s the point – Miniatures just showcases memories through this medium, adding a bit of fantasy to it all.
