Growing up in the 90s, I had a lot of exposure to some great years in PC adventure games. Namely, games like the 1987 classic Maniac Mansion, 1990s hilarious pirate romp The Secret of Monkey Island, and more like it. These games formed one of the most beloved genres of all time, the point ‘n click adventure. Point ‘n clicks have taken many shapes over the years, mostly in the form of games like Telltale’s The Walking Dead, and Double Fine’s Broken Age. There’s a real feeling that comes with old PC point ‘n clicks, an almost tangible place in time. This image, pulled from Thimbleweed Park‘s nearly $650,000 successful Kickstarter page, embodies that feeling completely.
The Return of the 90s
On top of that stack of old games is an even older looking game, Thimbleweed Park. That game releases on Xbox One and Steam on March 30th, 2017. The game isn’t actually small enough to fit on a floppy disc, don’t kid yourself. Rather, this image resembles the whole pitch of Thimbleweed Park. Straight from their Kickstarter page, creators Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick pitch it to us as so…
“Ever wonder what it would be like to play a classic adventure game the day it came out and experience all the surprise and charm for the very first time? Wonder no more!”
Thimbleweed Park looks to replicate everything that made the point ‘n click adventure genre so charming. The game’s developers, Gilbert and Winnick also have a bit of experience making these games. They crafted the classics I loved so much. Maniac Mansion will forever stick with me, you seriously have no clue.
The game’s generally weird tone is reminiscent of Twin Peaks, the David Lynch cult hit television show from 1990. With Gilbert at the controls, Thimbleweed Park is bound to be quirky and funny, but could potentially be quite creepy as well. As you investigate the mysterious town, you’ll switch between five playable characters. A recent press release promises “A vast, bizarre world to explore at your own pace.” Additionally, it cites that the game has “satisfying puzzles intertwined with a twisty-turny story that will stay with you.” and cheekily that it’s “not a walking simulator!”
Thimbleweed Park looks absolutely ridiculous, and I’m hoping it turns out great. I always approach point ‘n click revivals with a bit of skepticism though… too good to be true and all that. There’s no set price yet, but if I had to wager, I’d guess 10-20 USD. I eagerly await its release, and will fill you in with a verdict once I’ve had the chance to dive in. Get it on Xbox One, Steam, GOG, and the Microsoft Store on March 30th.
To see Thimbleweed Park in motion, check out the trailer below.
