These indie games that are high on style and low on substance can be really hit and miss with me (but mostly miss). Thankfully, Dordogne refuses to join the ranks of Kentucky Fried Zero, Gris and Rime through sheer merit of not being pretentious twaddle and instead being sincere in its efforts to tell a straightforward coming-of-age story, even if that story does succumb to some rushed pacing towards the last couple of chapters. The ending itself, though too brief, does manage a sufficiently emotional payoff fortunately.

Of course, if we're talking about style, it doesn't hurt that Dordogne also happens to be one of the most gorgeous games I've ever laid eyes on, while also being a serious contender for soundtrack of the year. Every location is almost like a diorama, and these sets are adorned with lush watercolours and deliberate lighting, giving every environment visited a warm nostalgic hue and a strong sense of place. Supernaive's spacey ambient score works in perfect tandem with the dreamlike atmosphere and greatly enhances the overall experience. It is a phenomenal OST.

The gameplay itself is very basic, and it's best to treat Dordogne as an interactive movie than anything else. But if the idea of Studio Ghibli's Only Yesterday meets Another Code/Trace Memory with a pinch of Shenmue thrown in for good measure sounds appealing to you, then be sure to give it a try. Hell, play it for the music alone.

7.75 outta 10.