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In Curse of Resthaven, you play as Ambrose, a man who took the job of governor of a struggling island in order to find his missing niece. And you arrived at a very bad time...After what I've seen, I'm unsure whether there is a good time when it comes to Resthaven.
Anywho, your niece is nowhere to be found, your predecessor died in mysterious circumstances, and there also might be a catastrophe coming for your island. Now it's on you to investigate and try to figure out what the hell is happening here.
There are just two tiny problems. One, most of the people here either don't like you and won't talk to you or answer your questions, or just don't trust you enough to be honest with you. And two - and worse - you could easily die. However, if you do die and the island gets destroyed, you'll get sent back to the beginning, but you get to keep everything that you found out previously, so your investigation isn't starting right from the bottom.
There is a six-day loop, so every run you're basically running against the clock. Some things you can only find out during the day, some during the night, and sometimes there is even a password required. The gameplay rewards paying attention, so this isn't a game where you can afford to look away.
The story of this game combines gothic horror, interesting stories and complex characters, but it also has other mechanics such as trading, expeditions, and decision-making, which will impact the outcomes of the story. I was barely into the demo, and right away I felt like I made a mistake, which shows how much weight your choices can carry. You get to carry out investigations and question people, and everything you find out will appear as clues for you. That is, if they actually tell you anything.
Everything here is shrouded in mystery, from the characters to the island itself. You can feel that something isn't right, but you just can't put your finger on it. The fact that no one will tell you either brings this frustration that every good mystery game should have.
The game looks beautiful, the art style is neat and fits the atmosphere well, and the voice acting is on point too and brings the characters to life. The entire presentation fits what the game wants to be, as it makes the entire island feel so uninviting.
Final thoughts
Curse of Resthaven's demo did exactly what it's supposed to. It gave me a little glimpse into all the mechanics that are in the game and intrigued me enough to want to play the full game once it's out, and thankfully I won't have to wait too long as October 29 is around the corner more or less. I got dropped onto a mysterious island, with a task that nobody wanted to help me solve, and the game made sure all the decisions I make will have weight to them.
This mix of investigation, management, and a time loop that lets you keep everything you've learned - which is fair in a scenario like this - is a pretty compelling combo because it eliminates the feeling that you've just wasted your time.
Since it's coming out just before Halloween, it's a perfect game to play during the spooky season, and I do recommend checking it out if mysteries are your cup of tea. I know I will be returning to Resthaven for sure.
