This game is inspiring, full stop. I originally got this game after getting a recommendation from a friend and started playing it on a whim. It ended up being one of my favourite titles from that year, and one that I think about often even after beating it.

This game tasks you with adding colour to the world after an incident occurs and drains it all. You inherit the Master Brush from the previous master, Chicory, and set out to explore the cause and learn more about the ways of painting. There is a surprising depth to this game, and touches upon themes of expectation, depression, and what it means to be artistic. There are some very dark moments touched upon here that I was all for.

The gameplay is quite simple too, paint the world however you like. You have a multitude of colors are styles to choose from and you can create whatever it is your mind can think of. It practically begs the player to do whatever it is they want, which allows players of any level to jump in and experience the game.

The puzzles and boss fights are also a treat, though for the latter it does feel a bit more out of place with this game. Not thematically, as they are beautifully integrated into the story, but more mechanically as these would probably throw inexperienced players for a loop. They look beautiful, however, as does the entire game for that matter.

This is truly a masterclass of storytelling and thematic gaming. While on the shorter side, this is a phenomenal piece of art that deserves the recognition it has gotten. Please play this game, it is worth your time.