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Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

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Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Developer(s)Simogo
Publisher(s)Annapurna Interactive
Director(s)Simon Flesser
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, Switch
  • May 16, 2024
  • PS4, PS5
  • December 3, 2024
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a 2024 puzzle game developed by Simogo and published by Annapurna Interactive. It was released on May 16, 2024, on Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch. It was also released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on December 3, 2024.

Gameplay

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The player controls a woman participating in mysterious project housed in an old mansion.[2] She must explore the mansion to find out what is happening, while the situation becomes progressively more "dangerous and surreal".[3] The game features more than 150 puzzles, which can be completed in a non-linear sequence. The game is played from a third-person perspective, and the player can interact with various characters and objects.[4]

Development

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Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is the ninth game developed by Simogo, which had previously created games such as Device 6 and Sayonara Wild Hearts. Unlike Sayonara Wild Hearts, the game is mostly colored in black and white. The studio wanted to create a "3D collage, a fragmented memory world", and therefore combined various visual styles, using "photographs, low-polygon geometry, line-rendering, and distinct sharp shading on higher res-characters" to create a surreal atmosphere.[5] According to Simon Flesser, the game's director, the team wanted to evoke "a constant feeling of ambivalence" and "a sense of absurdity", in which players will begin to question what is happening due to the peculiar scenarios presented in the game's story.[6] He further went on to add that the puzzles designed in the game were also built "around the idea of the players understanding the connection between things"[7]

In March 2020, Annapurna Interactive and Simogo announced a multi-year agreement to publish Simogo's games further after the success of Sayonara Wild Hearts in 2019.[8] During the Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase in June 2022, the game was officially revealed.[9] While the game was set to be released in 2023, an update during the Annapurna Interactive Showcase in June 2023 reveals the game delayed with a cyphered message around its launch.[10] The release date was finally revealed later during the Indie World Showcase in April 2024 with the game being set to launch on May 16, 2024.[11]

Reception

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Critical response

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Lorelei and the Laser Eyes received "generally favorable" reviews from critics for its Nintendo Switch and Windows versions,[12][14] and "universal acclaim" for the PlayStation 5 version, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic.[13] OpenCritic determined that 94% of critics recommended the game.[15]

Awards

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Lorelei and the Laser Eyes received nominations for its storytelling and for Best Indie Game at the Golden Joystick Awards.[30][31] It was also nominated for Best Independent Game at the Game Awards in 2024.[32] The game appeared on several lists of the top video games of 2024,[33][34][35] being ranked in third place by the Associated Press[36] and eighth place by The A.V. Club.[37]

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2024 Golden Joystick Awards Best Storytelling Nominated [30][31]
Best Indie Game Nominated
The Game Awards 2024 Best Independent Game Nominated [32]
2025 New York Game Awards Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game Pending [38]

References

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  1. ^ Saver, Michael (June 10, 2024). "Games Made with Unity: May 2024 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Castle, Katherine (April 17, 2017). "Lorelei And The Laser Eyes is a new notebook-is-mandatory puzzle stunner from the Sayonara Wild Hearts devs". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Denzer, TJ (April 17, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes brings adventure & suspense in May 2024". Shacknews. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Wales, Matt (April 17, 2024). "Sayonara Wild Hearts studio's Lorelei and the Laser Eyes out in May". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Nightingale, Ed (July 14, 2023). "Annapurna-published puzzler Lorelei and the Laser Eyes features a broken world and a big secret". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  6. ^ Conditt, Jessica (July 7, 2022). "Simogo tries to explain the mysteries of 'Lorelei and the Laser Eyes'". Engadget. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  7. ^ Flesser, Simon (June 3, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Interview - Sequels Not Likely" (Interview). Interviewed by Jorge Aguilar. Retrieved June 15, 2024 – via GamesHorizon.
  8. ^ Kerr, Chris (March 10, 2020). "Sayonara Wild Hearts dev signs multi-year partnership with Annapurna Interactive". Gamasutra. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  9. ^ Radulovic, Petrana (June 28, 2022). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is the newest game from Sayonara Wild Hearts developers". Polygon. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes - Official Maze Trailer". IGN. June 30, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  11. ^ Fanelli, Jason (April 17, 2024). "Lorelei And The Laser Eyes, The Next Game From Device 6 Devs, Launches In May". GameSpot. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (PC Critic Reviews)". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Reviews". OpenCritic. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  16. ^ Moorcroft-Sharp, Jamie (May 17, 2024). "Review: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes". Destructoid. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  17. ^ Giovanni, Colantonio (May 15, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review: The best video game I've ever reviewed". Digital Trends. Archived from the original on December 15, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  18. ^ Bardhan, Ashley (May 22, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review — art, ghosts, and perfect puzzles intertwine". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  19. ^ Hilliard, Kyle (May 22, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  20. ^ Indovina, Kurt (May 17, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Review — A Mastery of Illusions". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  21. ^ Watts, Rachel (May 15, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review: "Totally engrossing, effortlessly stylish, and one of the best puzzle games of 2024"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  22. ^ Helm, Jordan (May 15, 2024). "Review: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on August 3, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  23. ^ Marks, Tom (June 24, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  24. ^ Scullion, Chris (May 15, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  25. ^ Autumn, Wright (May 16, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  26. ^ Tailby, Stephen (December 2, 2024). "Mini Review: Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (PS5) — Bring a Notebook for This Dense, Compelling Puzzler". Push Square. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  27. ^ Erskine, Donovan (May 15, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review: A neo-noir puzzle box". Shacknews. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  28. ^ Stuart, Keith (May 16, 2024). "Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review — eerie visuals and a thrilling story". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 16, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  29. ^ Musgrave, Shaun (May 17, 2024). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Lorelei and the Laser Eyes', Plus the Latest Releases and Sales". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  30. ^ a b West, Josh (October 4, 2024). "Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead the shortlist for the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, nudging out Helldivers 2 and Balatro for the most nominations". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Jones, Ali (November 21, 2024). "Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2024 winners". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024.
  32. ^ a b Moore, Bo (December 3, 2024). "The Game Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  33. ^ Watts, Rachel (December 5, 2024). "From Balatro to Animal Well, here's the best indie games of 2024". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  34. ^ MacDonald, Keza (December 9, 2024). "The 20 best video games of 2024". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  35. ^ Parijat, Shubhankar (December 20, 2024). "GamingBolt's Game of the Year — Top 30 Games of 2024". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  36. ^ Kesten, Lou (December 3, 2024). "Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dragon Age, Astro Bot and an indie wave lead the top AP video games of 2024". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  37. ^ "The best games of 2024". The A.V. Club. December 9, 2024. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  38. ^ Maas, Jennifer (January 7, 2025). "New York Game Awards 2024 Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
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