Next of Kin [Review]
Short adventure Next of Kin lacks the pathos to make it resonate.
Next of Kin. Credit: Spellkvall Games
Spellkvall Games’ Next of Kin is a top-down 2D adventure that plays like a classic console JRPG without combat. The game is short; you can complete it in 2-3 hours. Though it deals with some weighty subjects, it lacks enough pathos to make the story the emotional gut-punch that it had the potential to be.
Writer Thomas and his wife Martha, a veterinarian, leave the city and move to a small village in the countryside. They live an idyllic life until one morning, when Thomas wakes up without memory of the last several days, and Martha is gone. Finding blood in his bedroom and office, Thomas thinks the worst.
Next of Kin. Credit: Spellkvall Games
The game is played in a top-down 2D perspective and features art reminiscent of 16-bit RPGs. As Thomas, you walk around, examine objects, and talk to people. You have an inventory, but an item is automatically used when interacting with its intended target. Solving the mystery involves unlocking five key memories for Thomas, which consists of examining various objects in the game and results in a narrative reveal in the form of a flashback.
I spent a little time lost trying to find the next thing I needed to check out. Items aren’t indicated as interactive until you’re right next to them, so it’s easy to miss things. Sometimes, you must check things repeatedly or return after looking at something else. Considering that the game's world is small, this becomes dull quickly.
Next of Kin. Credit: Spellkvall Games
The gameplay and its shortcomings would be easier to overlook without the weak storytelling. The narrative’s reveals don’t feel like they have enough impact, perhaps because the writing here doesn’t make up for the lack of effective use of the game’s camera and the lack of animations on the sprites to make them more expressive.
It’s hard to recommend Next of Kin as the cinematic experience it intends to be because its story and gameplay are not compelling enough. However, I see promise in Spellkvall Games and would love to see what they create with better tools and more honing of their craft.
Next of Kin is available now on PC (Steam).
Overall Score: 5/10
Played on: Steam Deck
