Undusted: Letters From The Past is a near perfect cosy package, offering almost everything you could possibly wish for from such a title. It’s succinct, moving, heartwarming, and engaging, making for an experience that I won’t forget anytime soon.
Developed by 5minlab, Undusted: Letters From The Past centres around Adora who returns to her childhood home shortly after her mother’s passing. It’s clear that the duo had lost touch, prompting plenty of reflection from Adora. The game combines both puzzle and simulation elements as players essentially work their way through cleaning various items from within Adora’s childhood home. As we do so, we unlock Adora’s life story, charting her childhood, teenage, and adult years.
I’m loath to delve much further into Undusted: Letters From The Past’s story, simply because experiencing it unfold is arguably the most potent aspect of this game’s magic formula. Adora’s tale is easily one of the most moving and emotional I’ve experienced in recent memory; in fact, I was sobbing by the game’s later chapters. I described Undusted: Letters From The Past as ‘heartwarming’ earlier, but I don’t want to lull you into a false sense of safety as this one will undoubtedly tug on your heartstrings.
Here is a tale of love, but one highlighting its dangers. Undusted: Letters From The Past examines how displaying love in a certain way can harm those you seek to protect. You won’t just come to understand Adora’s past, you’ll make life-changing discoveries alongside her, and given that this takes place against the backdrop of Adora’s mother’s passing, it’s incredibly difficult watching Adora attempt to come to terms with a sense of unfinished business and time lost.
The narrative fits alongside Undusted: Letters From The Past’s simple but effective gameplay. As I mentioned, players will clean an item in each chapter and as you clean said item, it’ll prompt a memory or discovery which Adora will reflect upon. To clean, you’ll have a number of tools at your disposal. There’s a small brush to tackle stubborn grime, a buffing cloth to polish, a sponge, and a small vacuum which draws away dirt but only for a small limited burst.
Once you’ve cleaned so much of the item, you’ll unlock a hint option. If you’re stuck on reaching 100%, pressing the hint option will highlight where any dirt remains as it’s not always abundantly obvious. You’ll have to rotate the object, viewing it from all angles. You may even need to experiment with opening it too, if that’s an option. Even grime out of view is still grime. Once the item is clean, you’ll move on, progressing through Adora’s story.
The game’s pixel aesthetic perfectly suits its cosy nature, and Undusted: Letters From The Past features a wonderfully relaxing soundtrack. The entire experience is incredibly meditative and, as I alluded to earlier, short too. You can probably wrap up Undusted: Letters From The Past in two hours or under which is where I’m a tad divided. I don’t feel the game felt too short exactly, as Adora’s tale was so perfectly told – and Undusted: Letters From The Past is priced reasonably at £8.50. I did, however, yearn for more upon reaching the end, but I feel that’s perhaps just a sign of what a wonderful experience this was.
If you’re after a cosy evening’s entertainment, I can’t imagine you’ll be disappointed by Undusted: Letters From The Past. Its gameplay is incredibly moreish, pulling you right through to the credits in a single sitting. It’s a brief journey but one that packs an emotional punch and teaches you a couple of important lessons along the way.
Pros: Moving story, beautifully presented, relaxing gameplay
Cons: Short
For fans of: Unpacking, A Little to the Left, PowerWash Simulator 2
8/10: Excellent
Undusted: Letters From the Past is out now on PC (version tested) and Nintendo Switch. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.
