A Retro-Inspired Mystery of Love and Loss
I’m a sucker for a good mystery. I can forgive a game with many imperfections if it tells a story which hooks, stringing me along until the very end.
Naturally, Next of Kin caught my eye for this very reason. The seemingly normal couple, Thomas and Martha, have decided to move away from the hustle and bustle of the city to the serene village of Mjolkebo. However, Thomas awakes one morning to the sight of blood and his wife Martha nowhere to be found. It’s here where Next of Kin throws control over to the player as the search for Martha begins.
A Quiet Village, A Missing Wife: The Premise
There aren’t many residents of Mjolkebo, but they are all worth talking to (even if it’s just to nab the achievement). It’s safe to say you have some interesting neighbours. As you explore the town and its surroundings, if someone is following you they will often get stuck behind trees, benches and other objects. They will continually walk without actually moving, until you head back and lure them back on course. It’s a little irritating but won’t cause any major issues.
Opening up your map of Mjolkebo reveals just how small the environment is. It’s inevitable, then, that you’ll be doing a fair bit of backtracking and retracing of steps as you investigate Martha’s disappearance. Thomas can’t remember much, so revisiting key locations will invoke memories that fill in the gaps for both him and the player. These take the form of a progress bar, and it will gradually fill as he investigates. Once unlocked, these flashbacks add meat to the bones of the story and new dimensions to each character.
Simple Puzzles, Complex Relationships
There is also some extremely basic puzzling to do in Next of Kin. It’s a case of finding certain items and where to use them; nothing more complex than that. “Puzzling” is probably a bit generous, and it’s point and click stuff in all honesty. The story being told is the central focus of the game, everything else plays second fiddle.
Full disclosure here. At first Martha doesn’t seem like a particularly pleasant person. In fact, I’d go as far to say she’s a bit prickly actually. However, it becomes clear as you learn more that this is only one side of her, and there is much more going on under the surface.
The tale told in Next of Kin clearly deals with some very sensitive issues, and does a good job in doing so. I felt empathy with both characters as they grappled with the very human, grounded issues which test the strength of their relationship. The 16+ rating may seem surprising, but due to the adult issues explored and the choice of language at times, makes perfect sense. Even the ending is left open to interpretation.
Retro Style, Modern Story
There are also some truly emotional moments in Next of Kin that very quickly shift the tone from light-hearted to very serious. These mood swings are supported by the soundtrack which helps add feeling to the largely text based story through the ups and downs experienced by the couple. Not bad at all for the first project from Spelkväll Games.
However, I found the story beats to be predictable for the most part (things get a little more uncertain and complicated towards the end) and the disclaimer at the start gives away many of the plot themes. Sadly, you can see them coming a mile off.
Predictable Plot, Powerful Themes
Next of Kin is a 2D adventure inspired by those 16-bit RPG classics such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It’s an interesting choice, challenging even, given the emotional, cinematic story the team at Spelkväll Games are trying to tell. The devs manage to successfully create an eerie and almost supernatural world at times, which helps the narrative feel more impactful.
Short and sweet may well be the perfect description for Next of Kin, but given the price of £1.69 you can’t go too far wrong. You’ll struggle to get a decent sandwich for that these days.
Next of Kin is a simple game in many ways, but this doesn’t stop it from being a solid retro inspired, narrative driven mystery thriller.
Important Links
Investigate a Shocking Disappearance in the Super Cheap Next of Kin on Xbox and PlayStation – https://www.thexboxhub.com/investigate-a-shocking-disappearance-in-the-super-cheap-next-of-kin-on-xbox-and-playstation/
Buy Next of Kin on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/next-of-kin/9ng4x9b9n6sr
