PC Critic Reviews

Rivage makes getting lost in A.R.E.S. a pleasure, even when we have no idea what to do next. Its mystery, the beauty of the station, and puzzles that truly force us to stop and think make us want to investigate just one more room. Limited energy might force us to retrace our steps, but finally solving a riddle that had us going in circles for a while makes the effort worthwhile.

Rivage sets a ridiculously high bar for virtual escape rooms across the universe. If you’re up for a challenge, prepare to get your puzzle on. You’ll be rewarded for your efforts with stunning visuals and a captivating tale. I only wish I could play it with friends (the very clever ones, please).

Rivage is an intriguing sci-fi puzzle game that uses the ability to loop time as a central mechanic. The game's atmosphere is often cozy, but the emptiness and quiet tend to give it an eerie undercurrent as you dig into the mysteries of Vesta and Station Ares. With a short runtime, you can get through the game over a couple of days, but you want to be prepared to think and be frustrated by puzzles. Your first playthrough is the highlight, as you'd know everything about the mysteries after it, but I think it could be a fun game to try speed running.

Rivage is a fine-enough puzzle game, but some questionable decisions make it a more frustrating than enjoyable experience.

The problem is that it’s a convoluted, frustrating journey to get there, and it’s not one I’m entirely sure was even worth it come the end. Every time the power cut out, or I ran into a dead end, or needed to back track, I started to really dislike that arcade machine. Come the end, I began to hate it. Like I said – a brave choice for the developer to make.

Rivage is a beautiful simulacrum of an immersive, sci-fi puzzle game. It is an impressive feat, given that it is a two-person studio’s first project. On the surface, it looks like it accomplishes everything it should. Everything is there: puzzles, immersive storytelling and time-loops. However, in execution, the bad overshadows the good. Good puzzles are drowned out by aimlessly chasing around puzzle pieces. Fascinating mechanics don’t enhance the experience, but are actively hostile to it. The premise is unique and interesting, but is driven by one-note character, bad writing and poorly communicated goals. Underlining all of this is the ever-present anxiety that what you’re experiencing isn’t the work of a real person, but generative AI. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend Rivage.