What Are We Playing [April 2026]

This month's What Are We Playing covers a puzzle series, two beginner-friendly games, and an RPG video game.

The Shackleton Series, Parts 4-6 by Escape Mail

We covered the first half of The Shackleton Series last year, but here's the short version for new readers: The Shackleton Series is a 6-chapter puzzle game that unlocks the mystery of how Ernest Shackleton and his crew stayed alive while stranded in Antarctica for two years. The later chapters definitely carry that same spirit forward. Part 4 was shorter and easier than earlier chapters—no hints or flow cards needed—but the paper contraption in this episode was a highlight: fun to assemble and satisfying to manipulate. We especially enjoyed this puzzle and the chapter's meta puzzle; both were very cleverly designed paper components. Parts 5 and 6 kept the neat papercrafting going with a few additional props that added to the tactility without overcomplicating things. We ran into a couple of snags in the last chapter, but a majority of the gameplay was smooth and well signposted. It felt like the perfect difficulty to keep us engaged without frustration, but it also didn't hurt that the hints were fairly thorough when we did need help!

The story is engaging throughout the series, though it occasionally gets bogged down in detail and may have benefited from another editorial pass. That aside, we would absolutely recommend the The Shackleton Series if you're looking for a light-to-medium weight puzzle adventure that you can pore over for multiple sessions. Difficulty: 2.5/5

Time: 1-2 hours per chapter

Down The Rabbit Hole by Puzzling Pursuits

Down The Rabbit Hole is a quick, beginner-friendly puzzle game that uses the source material of Alice in Wonderland as a theme more than a story—almost like a mini escape room. The art is simple but works well for what the game is, and there are clever puzzles and cute wordplay woven in. We didn't need any hints, and while experienced solvers will likely find it fairly easy, it was still a nice change of pace from heavier games. One practical note: it works best with one or two players if you want everyone actively involved in each puzzle. Time: 1-1.5 hours

Difficulty: 1/5

Mystery Maps: Murder in Fremantle by Fictional Reality

We played an earlier draft of Murder in Fremantle, which had some rough edges, but the strength of the gameplay was easily evident. The format is immediately appealing: a portable booklet that plays like a choose-your-own-path story layered with a grid logic puzzle. The instructions are clear enough that the system makes sense before you've even started, and the difficulty felt accessible throughout. We recommend this to anyone looking to do some light solo puzzling. Looking forward to more Mystery Maps! Disclaimer: We were offered a playtest copy of this game. Sign up for Fictional Reality's mailing list to download a free copy for yourself at fictionalreality.com.au.

Time: ~1 hour Difficulty: 2/5

Image via Steam

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Kepler Interactive

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a story-driven RPG video game with a unique flavor of turn-based combat that also includes quick-time events. The onboarding and difficulty curve is managed well: learning four characters' skill sets at once could easily feel overwhelming, but the designers paced this out very thoughtfully. While playing, the music stands out right away—it's a lovely complement to the atmosphere. The world design and animation are beautifully rendered, and both the writing and voice acting feel up to par. The story centers on themes of loss and ends up going far deeper than I initially expected, but there's plenty of humor and whimsy woven in too, which made for nice moments of levity.

I wished for a better understanding of the scale and the world earlier on—as is, it's easy to miss out on some of the additional exploration that's possible. Reorienting after battles and not accidentally backtracking was also an annoyance. Having a map available throughout the game would've helped significantly for those of us that are directionally challenged. That being said, these critiques are fairly minor. Considering this is the studio's first release, the level of polish is genuinely impressive. I eagerly await their next project, and if you are a fan of story-driven RPGs, this is an absolute must-play.

Time: ~40+ hours

Difficulty: Variable

What have you been playing lately?