Beacon Pines Reviews
Beacon Pines is an experience that will have its players cross a fairy tale and find words that will cause shifts to the events on the plot. With less emphasis on action and more on narrative discovery, Beacon Pines treats its players to a charming visual world and an exquisite soundtrack, while its environment flows between an adorable kid-friendly world to something more disturbing and menacing, and the game does all this naturally. One of the best indie gems to make its way to the Nintendo Switch catalogue.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Beacon Pines is a cozy and fun game with perfect comic-style graphics and an addicting story. The perfect adventure for those who love dark atmospheres but don't like to get too scared.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Beacon Pines effectively creates an uneasy atmosphere through contrast. The branching story helps build the exposition as you peer into the lives of the other townspeople. It's a simple game that is on the shorter side with a few seemingly unnecessary features, but all loose ends are wrapped up by the end, leaving an enjoyable story that doesn't overstay its welcome.
Beacon Pines offers a quirky gameplay hook, pleasing art style, and an unexpected mystery, but that might not win over more than a select group.
With strong presentation and art, for the most part, and an autumnal young adult mystery, Beacon Pines stands out, bringing new ideas to branching narrative gaming while not quite making the landing.
Beacon Pines is an unexpected horror-filled romp – one that’ll keep you locked in suspense for as long as loveable protagonist Luka is in danger. Keep your mind on the branching paths, and eventually you’ll discover a way out of this strange, body horror-infused nightmare. But be wary – the paths off the beaten tracks will stay with you long after the game is over.
Sometimes less is most definitely more and Beacon Pines is a magnificent example of how much more. Keeping gameplay simple and letting the story lead the way, it has a way of thoroughly enveloping the player without even realising it. You’ll be compelled to find every little nuance, every aspect of what makes the leading trio who they are. Every facet of a great conspiracy. A glorious Gold Award for the not-so-sleepy town of Beacon Pines and its branching, all-encompassing tale!
Beacon Pines is an inspiring adventure that manages to show an emotional narrative and entice the player with its plot. With a charming 2D ambientation, the title offers a good experience of its genre, though it ends up not exploring its main mechanics as well as it could.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A cute adventure game with a great art style and intriguing story. Sadly, its gameplay is a little lacking.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Beacon Pines is a fantastic story-heavy game for anyone who is into creepy and cute stories and doesn't mind being narrated at for hours on end.
A young adult mystery surrounding a quaint town that prefers simplicity over ambition.
Beacon Pines presents a rich world filled with deeply considered, not to mention adorable, characters. The beautifully crafted art, paired with a soundtrack that both captures and sets the mood, make for a wholly enjoyable experience. It might not be for those who prefer action, but it is a lovely and compelling story that sees Luka, Rolo and Beck delve into a bevy of unique situations. You might finish it in less than a work day, but it'll stay with you for much longer.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Beacon Pines. Its eye-catching storybook art style catches your attention which is then held by the game's fast-moving and suspenseful plot. There were times when this story felt too convoluted in some areas whilst a little lacking in explanation in others, but it's still an easy recommendation. Just don't trust its cutesy appearance too much — Beacon Pines might start out at the beginning of Summer, but that eerie undertone makes it a great contender to play in the run-up to Halloween.
Beacon Pines is the type of adventure game that's perfectly suited for genre newcomers and those seeking to get away from the point-and-click style while retaining the genre's deeper storytelling. The story remains fascinating, since it clashes with the idyllic town setting and cast of cute characters. The ability to uncover every branch of the story tree via your discovered actions drives the desire to see every possible outcome even, if it is forced on you via the game design. The overall gameplay length ensures that it doesn't overstay its welcome, but some players may not like the semi-visual novel flow of most of the game. If you're willing to overlook that design decision, you'll be more than happy with this unassuming adventure.
The story and mystery presented in the game's world feel fun to discover, and the drastic differences noticed while going back and forth between different branches will likely be enough to keep your attention for the game's 6 to 7-hour runtime. I especially enjoyed the game's narrator, as she gives a delightfully enthusiastic (if not cheesy) performance throughout. If you want a complicated story with a simple delivery method, and a fun way of branching around, Beacon Pines is definitely a game to give a try.
Beacon Pines is an engaging choose-your-own-adventure story with a variety of characters, excellent graphics and score, and overall narrative about a town in peril combine to create a wonderfully addictive game.
Beacon Pines is an adventure that takes shape before the player's eyes, but the gameplay feels so much limited because of the narrative. Despite that, it tries to tell a meaningful arc that overshadows its shortcomings by delivering a coming-of-age story in which it is worth diving.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Can you make the crucial decisions it takes to save your friends and your struggling town?
A mystery thriller with great personality and deep characters, which will trap us between its pages and immerse us in this dodgy and mean-spirited world.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Beacon Pines is a lovely and well-made game that should prove worthwhile to any adventure game fan.
Review in Slovak | Read full review