| Phoenix Springs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Phoenix Springs is a point-and-click mystery game set in a striking neo-noir world. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Phoenix Springs Review Overview
What is Phoenix Springs?
You’re the investigative reporter Iris Dormer who suddenly finds herself in the quaint but mysterious desert oasis of Phoenix Springs. You arrive there in search of your estranged brother who you’ve chosen to finally reconnect with. However, in Phoenix Springs, the community is strange and enigmatic, to say the least. Guide Iris through the desert and the town and uncover the mysteries of the location, alongside unearthing truths about herself.
Phoenix Springs features:
⚫︎ Fully-Voiced
⚫︎ Atmospheric Neo-Noir World
⚫︎ Hand-drawn art and Animations
⚫︎ Streamlined UI
⚫︎ Challenging Puzzles
⚫︎ Noir Mystery
⚫︎ Point and Click Game
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Phoenix Springs's gameplay and story.
 Steam |
 GoG |
||||
| $19.99 | Coming soon |
Phoenix Springs Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Gorgeous Painting Like Visuals Immersive Narrative Thought-Provoking Puzzles |
UI can Be Clunky at Times |
Phoenix Springs Overall Score - 90/100
Critics have long debated whether video games are truly an art form. Give them a copy of Phoenix Springs, and that argument will be over. This game feels like a museum-worthy painting brought to life as a gripping mystery point-and-click adventure. Just like a captivating art piece, the more you engage with it, the deeper it draws you in. With its avant-garde visuals, haunting sound design, and puzzles that challenge both your mind and your imagination, Phoenix Springs leaves a lasting impression, making you ponder its beauty long after you’ve finished playing.
Phoenix Springs Story - 9/10
Phoenix Springs is a noir mystery like no other, unfolding as a gripping detective story about a woman's search for her lost brother. To experience its full impact, it’s best to dive in with as little knowledge as possible—the story will hook you from the very first scene, with every character making you question their true motives. Though it starts off slow, the tension builds, keeping you guessing and on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Phoenix Springs Gameplay - 8/10
This is a true point-and-click adventure that strips away traditional menus, replacing them with a sleek, minimalist UI featuring just three buttons. I love this clean, simple design, as it makes the game feel more immersive. With its minimalist approach, the challenge lies in using your wits to solve puzzles, which are highly engaging and can be tricky at times. However, the simplicity does occasionally lead to awkward input controls, making gameplay a bit clunky at moments.
Phoenix Springs Visuals - 10/10
This game feels like being trapped inside a hauntingly beautiful painting. The visuals pull you deep into a mysterious town, shrouded in secrets, where every corner has a story to tell. The blend of sleek, modern art creates an unforgettable atmosphere, making every scene in Phoenix Springs so captivating that will have you keep pressing the screenshot button to have them as your wallpaper.
Phoenix Springs Audio - 9/10
The audio design in this game uses a deliberate static filter effect that perfectly complements the neo-noir atmosphere, evoking the gritty charm of classic detective films. The music leans heavily on ambiance, with long, eerie tones that underscore the bleak and unsettling nature of this mysterious world. And the voice acting—especially from our lead, Iris Dormer—is absolutely top-notch.
Phoenix Springs Value for Money - 9/10
Phoenix Springs is a game that’s absolutely worth your attention—and your $20. Even if you're not typically a fan of point-and-click adventures, its sleek UI and thought-provoking puzzles might just change your mind.
Phoenix Springs Review: A Captivating Art Piece
Mystery is the Heart of Art
The debate over whether video games should be considered art has been ongoing for years, but Phoenix Springs feels like a definitive answer to that question. I’ve never been so mesmerized by a game like this, where every detail feels intentional and completely unique. It’s a point-and-click mystery that draws heavily from detective noir films and modern contemporary art, blending them seamlessly. Many artists will tell you that mystery is essential to creating art—it invites interpretation, sparks curiosity, and allows themes to unfold naturally. Phoenix Springs embodies this concept beautifully.
At its core, Phoenix Springs is about Iris Dormer, a journalist who travels to a neo-noir town in search of her brother, Leo. The way the game presents itself is vague yet endlessly intriguing, as it feels like it’s set both in the future and the past, all thanks to its stunning art direction. The moment you think you're on a train, you realize you’re actually in her room, and the green-lime-yellow color palette adds an almost dreamlike quality.
The contrasting colors highlight key figures while casting the rest of the world in shadowy mystery. The town itself looms with intrigue and style, and the way scenes are framed feels like you're flipping through the pages of a graphic novel, elevating the story as it unfolds.
The sound design is just as striking, perfectly capturing that retro-futuristic vibe. The use of static plays a constant role, enhancing the eerie nature of the environment, while the score masterfully shifts from the thumping beats of a club to the unsettling silence of a room. The sound truly immerses you, and what stands out the most is the incredible voice acting, especially from Iris, voiced by Alexandra.
She brings a dry, nihilistic edge to the character, with her disconnected, almost detective-like delivery. Her voice is calm, with a chill, relaxed tone that adds to the cinematic feel of the game. Iris’s sly interrogations and snarky remarks make her a captivating protagonist—someone who’s mysterious but relatable, and undeniably entertaining.
As Iris unravels the secrets of Phoenix Springs, every answer she finds only leads to more questions. And that’s what makes the game so compelling. It’s a piece of art that invites you to think, to interpret, and to explore, creating an experience that’s as unforgettable as it is unique.
The Puzzles are Just as Captivating
The art in Phoenix Springs seamlessly integrates into the gameplay, elevating what could have been a standard point-and-click experience into something sleek and engaging. The game strips away traditional elements like menus and inventories, replacing them with a modernized, minimalist UI that feels almost like navigating a smartphone.
Right-click anywhere on the screen, and a floating menu appears with three simple options: talk to, look at, or use. This streamlined approach makes interactions feel smooth and intuitive. You guide Iris through areas with a camera-locked perspective, clicking on objects and materials for her to interact with. Sometimes, you’ll need to click on Iris herself to trigger unique inputs.
The puzzles are equally captivating, striking the perfect balance of difficulty. Whether you’re searching for a missing item, interrogating characters for clues, or solving code-based puzzles, everything feels like a detective unraveling mysteries. The design and visual presentation of these puzzles make them deeply immersive, encouraging you to think critically and explore on your own. I also love that you can save at any time and access guides if you get stuck, giving players flexibility.
However, the minimalistic UI does have a downside. There were moments when directing Iris felt clunky—sometimes she didn’t move where I clicked, or I had to click multiple times to get the intended response.
Whether this is a bug or a limitation of the design isn’t clear, but thankfully, it doesn’t detract too much from the overall experience. Despite these minor hiccups, Phoenix Springs shines as a narrative-driven game with a thought-provoking ending, offering a truly immersive and memorable journey.
Is Phoenix Springs Worth It?
Worth More than a Painting
Phoenix Springs is priced at just $19, and when you compare that to the millions some modern art pieces go for, this game feels like an absolute steal. Not only is it more thought-provoking and engaging than many of those high-priced artworks, but it also offers an immersive experience that will captivate both point-and-click adventure fans and story-driven game lovers alike. Its stunning visuals alone make it worth every penny, and I can only hope the developers release artwork and wallpapers because the art direction is just that breathtaking.
| Steam |
GoG |
||||
| Wishlist only | Coming soon | ||||
| $19.99 | |||||
Phoenix Springs FAQ
Is there a Walkthrough Guide for Phoenix Springs?
Yes, the game includes a walkthrough guide accessible through the menu. When you select the tutorial section, it will direct you to the developer's website, where you’ll need to subscribe to access the walkthrough. Subscribing is completely free.
Is Phoenix Springs Hand-Drawn?
Yes, the visuals and animations are entirely hand-drawn.
Game8 Reviews
You may also like...
Phoenix Springs Product Information
 | |
| Title | PHOENIX SPRINGS |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 7, 2024 |
| Developer | Calligram Studio |
| Publisher | Calligram Studio |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam) |
| Genre | Mystery, Point-and-Click, Puzzle |
| Number of Players | Single-Player(1) |
| Rating | Rating Pending (RP) |
| Official Website | Phoenix Springs Official Website |
