Summary
Phoenix Springs is a point-and-click mystery set in a bleak futuristic world of dramatic shadows and muted primary colors. The game stars Iris Dormer, a technology reporter who’s searching for her estranged brother, Leo.
Iris’ city is desolate and rife with inequity. The streets are dotted with deserted buildings and barbed wire. Only the richest citizens are allowed to use energy without restriction.
The game’s simple control scheme supports a surprisingly complex narrative that unspools in Iris’ measured narration. The game relies on making common-sense connections and following your intuition, and rarely are solutions provided at face value.
Phoenix Springs is an interactive art installation that happens to use point-and-click game mechanics. It occupies a similar territory as Kentucky Route Zero, another title that offers depressing social commentary in a visually fascinating package.
