Backbone

Backbone is a post-noir detective game that takes place in a world full of anthropomorphic animals. Step into the shoes of the raccoon detective Howard Lotor as you explore a fictional version of Vancouver, interacting with various NPCs as you try to get to the bottom of the case you’ve taken on. The game is beautiful, has a rich story, and is gripping and tense throughout, making for a fantastic experience that you don’t want to miss. Let me tell you a little bit more about what’s in store for you when you download Backbone and play it for yourself for the first time.

A unique gameplay style

Backbone features a style of gameplay quite unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, where you get to freely explore 2D environments, collect clues and evidence, and interact with characters by choosing from a range of dialogue options. The dialogue choices are great as they let you roleplay as whatever kind of detective you want, whether that be a foul-mouthed grump or a more sympathetic and caring character.

In addition to exploring environments and gathering information, you’ll be tasked with solving a bunch of puzzles, too. No good detective game is complete without a few good brain teasers, so expect to come across a bunch of them in Backbone.

A quirky cast of characters

Backbone features a whole host of memorable characters, all with unique personalities and behaviors that keep the game interesting throughout. From laid-back beavers to vicious vermin, you’ll cross paths with all sorts of animals, just be careful because a lot of them may turn out to be a lot less nice than they first appear…

A vibrant city brought to life

A fictional version of Vancouver is where Backbone takes place, as mentioned earlier, and the world is brought to life incredibly using detailed pixel art which is just gorgeous to look at. The art is somewhat reminiscent of what you see in Stardew Valley. Every little detail in every environment has been thought through carefully, and the result is a phenomenally attractive game with a subtle retro aesthetic. It doesn’t get better than this.

Along with the fantastic visuals comes an excellent cinematic soundtrack that really reinforces the post-noir theme of the game and helps bring everything together.

Pros:

• Absolutely stunning visuals and soundtrack
• An amazing story that just keeps giving
• Plenty of interesting and fleshed-out characters to meet throughout your journey

Cons:

• The game lacks any recorded dialogue, and I really think it would benefit from having some
• Some of the dialogue options are bland and certain conversations seem a bit unnatural