I’ve not played a game so childish (in the best way possible) as Concrete Genie in a long while. The game seems to be built both in gameplay and narrative to serve as an early video game for children—the bullying message is appropriate if a bit shallow, and the gameplay direction is clearly marked at all times on the in-game mini-map, leaving very little puzzle-solving. This amounted to the game being a bit more mindless of an exercise than I would like from a video game. Even so, the game presented a charming 3-4 hour story, and I intend to return for the Platinum trophy. Edit Platinum Trophy took an additional hour and 15 minutes.

While much has been made of the game’s bullying message, the most impactful message it holds for its older audience actually regards the artist at the game’s center, Ash, as he discovers the vocation of an artist. His kind heart, meek demeanor, and social isolation clearly play into Western stereotypes of the “artist type,” yet the game has a much more nuanced take on the craft itself, especially on the cycle of art influencing people and people influencing art.

Beyond the narrative, the game is just a freaking delight to play—light and darkness are not conversational metaphors, but lived realities in this game’s beautiful world.

The only things that holds Concrete Genie back from brilliance are a few annoying design issues: too-close button prompt distances, jumbled artwork, and unclear hit-boxes all hampered my play through. Unfortunately, these issues are persistent through much of the game and interrupted my enjoyment often, even if only in small ways.

If you are looking for a short, heart-warming, and beautiful game for a rainy afternoon, I heartily recommend Concrete Genie.