Dordogne Reviews
Dordogne was not the game I was hoping for. The gameplay is awkward and tedious, and the story takes far too long to get interesting, then ends rather abruptly. The only area that did manage to live up to the hype was the art design. Unfortunately, after soaking up its breath-taking watercolor aesthetic, I found Dordogne to be less of a wild adventure, and more of a lackadaisical drift downstream.
It’s a beautiful story about a girl who seems lost in her life who eventually finds there really is meaning, and it’s stuff a realization we can easily appreciate today.
It’s tempting to call it a shame—a waste, even—that a game that looks so unlike any other doesn’t have much going for it in the way of dialogue or character study. But, then, stories aren’t just limited to the things people say. And, of course, a story centered on the tenuous nature of human memory would be messier than that—rendered in imprecise arrays, interrupted by blank space, and framed in rough edges. Which is to say, a bit like watercolor.
Cédric Babouche's exquisite landscapes evoke the lost land of childhood as a woman in her 30s explores her late grandmother's home
Dordogne is a work of art in more ways than one. From its striking pastel art style, to the soundtrack, storytelling and even the way it blends its gameplay mechanics, this is one of 2023’s best surprises and outside of text accessibility, some minor texture clipping and heavy-handed controls, this is an unforgettable adventure that will put you through a rollercoaster of emotions.
Dordogne is a beautiful and artistic game that takes me on a journey through the picturesque countryside of France with its unique art style. However, it leaves me with some regrets due to its mishandling of storytelling.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Dordogne is a half-successful experiment. The excellent artistic direction is accompanied by a simple but functional gameplay, which also finds some inspired solutions in the completion of Mimi's diary.
Review in Italian | Read full review
On its trip down the river, some of Dordogne's design ideas feel stodgy, performance is sometimes flaky, and it leans into its clunkiest gameplay elements as it nears the end. But to get hung up on these points is to miss a truly touching story bringing a beautiful world to life in sound and images. There's a lot to reward you here if you can navigate the obstacles and just go with the flow.
Dordogne is a gentle and comfortable adventure that manages to capture an authentic quality. The intriguing narrative threads are thoughtfully implemented to allow you to tie strands together. Gameplay aspects are rudimentary and at times feel unnecessary, however, they do help make the jaw-dropping environments feel alive. While at times you may wish that Mimi could run, that thought seems to dissipate as you take in the beautiful surroundings. Although this is not for everyone, those who enjoy narrative-driven games will fall in love with Dordogne.
Despite being essentially an interactive narrative experience, I feel Dordogne had to embrace the game format to meet its goal of having us inhabit the countryside region, [feeling] the childhood nostalgia, the characters and their relationships. A movie, comic book or some other visual art medium would not represent Mimi walking through an expressive watercolor [environment] made up of colors, lights and memories in such an immersive manner, even if the gameplay interactions here are shallow.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dordogne is an interesting, imperfect game with some phenomenal design and visuals. The watercolor graphics make for one of the most stunning games I've seen for a while, and some of the interactive choices worked incredibly well, such as the activity of putting photos and poems together to make the binder Mimi longs to rediscover. While there are certain areas of frustration, I ultimately enjoyed my time in exploring Mimi's childhood memories (and my own) through art.
Dordogne is a good-looking narrative adventure that tells and extraordinarily ordinary familiar story, making you wonder about of all the time we waste far from our beloved ones.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Dordogne is a beautiful watercolour adventure through childhood mystery, suitable for the cosiest of gamers.
On the surface, Dordogne is a bittersweet story about a woman rediscovering her memories of childhood joy and adventure. However, there are also other threads exploring complicated familial relationships and struggles. While I feel the main story had a satisfactory conclusion, some of the other plot lines could use some more clarity or closure. In terms of gameplay, the exploration and light puzzle elements are a fantastic complement to the narrative and are engaging and fun. I imagine this game will be playable by a wide audience, as intended by the developers. If you enjoy narrative games, Dordogne is for you. If you do play and enjoy it, be on the lookout for future projects that will explore the story further, including a short film called Les Ricochets, and comic books.
Dordogne is an intimate adventure that reminds us how important the small moments in life can be.
Though bittersweet, Dordogne offers a thoughtful, well-paced narrative that is accompanied by beautiful visuals and sounds. It’s a pleasant adventure title through-and-through. One that I recommend to just about anyone.
]Dordogne's beautiful scenery, comforting gameplay, and heartfelt story make it just as much a piece of summer art as it is a game. There are the occasional technical issues that affect visuals, but it's nothing that will impact the best parts of the gameplay for most players.
Dordogne’s unique selling point is undoubtedly its art style. It truly is beautiful – perhaps one of the most gorgeously animated games we’ve had the pleasure to play, even. And yes, the visuals alone are almost enough to carry the game. Despite the odd misstep, though, we did thoroughly enjoy the story and came to care for Mimi and her grandmother – as brief as our time with them was. It’s small, it’s quaint, but it’s touching – and it’s one of those special games that reminds you life is precious, fleeting and nothing should be taken for granted.
A little crumpled towards the end and sometimes too
Review in Russian | Read full review
Dordogne, the first game of Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, invites players to connect with their inner child in a colorful world that looks like something out of the best of tales.
Review in Spanish | Read full review