Thimbleweed Park

Apart from the PC version, which still wins thanks to mouse and keyboard controls, this is the best way to experience the ironic masterpiece called Thimbleweed Park. Don't let the old school vibe turn you off: thanks to the Casual mode, this is a timeless classic that should be played by anyone who was born and raised between the late '70s and the early '90s.

By all accounts, Thimbleweed Park on the Switch looks and plays very much like its PC counterpart that I played several months ago. Just as was the case then, this is a must-have for point and click adventure gamers who either don’t have it on PC or prefer to play on Switch.

Thimbleweed Park brings back the point and click genre for a fun and well developed effort full of good sense of humour and interesting puzzles to solve. While it feels like it would be a big improvement if it could be played in a way more akin to the games it's paying tribute to, Thimbleweed Park will leave no one disappointed.

Thimbleweed Park just might be too 1980s for a lot of people, but for anyone else who is willing to play through this tale, you’re in for a hell of a good time. While some of the puzzles will be painful and you’ll slap yourself for not getting them right away, that’s half the fun. A humorous story, great characters and just that good old feel make Thimbleweed Park a treasure worth checking out

Thimbleweed Park is a wonderful love letter about everything that made 1980s games great. The Switch probably has the best console version due to the touch screen controls, as the physical controls can be a chore if you’re playing on the TV. With such a focus maintained on nostalgia I’m not really sure someone who likes Telltale’s adventure games are going to appreciate Thimbleweed Park. Regardless, there’s enough humor and witty writing to keep gamers of all ages entertained.

Point-and-click beginners may struggle with the myriad puzzles Thimbleweed Park lays across its curiosity-piquing plot, but its developers have rightfully made it possible to get ahead even when all you see are dead ends, with the inclusion of the tips line. It means that what would have been an essential only for a very specific audience is, with no explicit fail states, easy for anyone to not just enjoy, but actually finish. And going around for a second time is still a treat, much as Monkey Island et al were, as you can clearly see all the pieces of the grander picture coming together to comprise a fascinating whole, climaxing with one of gaming’s better twists.

Thimbleweed Park is a beautifully crafted, if challenging world to explore. The puzzles you face can be daunting at times and may put some people off, but players who are able to be patient (or use the in-game hints when possible) should find it to be an enjoyable ride. Fans of the genre and of the game’s predecessors will no doubt love everything on offer here and, with 20-30 hours worth of content for those willing to fully explore, there is quite a lot to love.