Well, what a pleasant find Leaves - The Journey turned out to be. Having been on a puzzler kick of late, the game hit the spot nicely. Fundamentally its an enjoyable but somewhat taxing point and click puzzle game with a little bit of HOB thrown in.

Your task is to find and retrieve a number of leaves that have unexpectedly be scattered across the world when a gust of wind disrupted a tree and its inhabitants. You'll navigate the world, screen by screen, solving puzzles and discovering where they landed.

You'll find the game never holds your hand along this journey however. There's no dialogue or assistance here but you are armed with a map which lists all the screens you'll need to visit along with the leaves you need to find them in. Various puzzles block your path along the way and range from the usual affair to the rather creative, some even being quite cryptic at times.

Aesthetically, it's a strange and surreal mix-up and is probably what sets the game apart. Settling somewhere in between that early-90s Myst look with its minimalist 3D rendering and the artistic flair of Amanita Design's Samorost series. Either way, its cool and retro while feeling eerie and deserted at the same time. The music and ambient sound is also in the same vein too, perfectly matching the atmosphere.

Overall, I enjoyed my 2/3 hour run with the game. I suppose my only minor complaint with the game would be with its UI and its inventory system which are a little cumbersome and inconsistent at times. That aside, if you're fond of puzzle games and get into weird worlds with some very unique characters, I'd highly recommend giving the game a try.