The Search

The Search is the kind of title that can mean almost anything, so the real question is how clearly the game turns that idea into play. By our assessment, games with this sort of name usually lean on investigation, wandering, or a goal that is revealed piece by piece. That can make for a strong sense of curiosity, but it can also leave the experience feeling abstract if the tasks are too loose. In practice it should be about following clues, reading spaces, and letting uncertainty do some of the work. It sits somewhere between adventure and puzzle design rather than fast combat, and it is most appealing when the act of looking is the point.