The Academy: The First Riddle

WayTooManyGamesHeidi Hawes

8/10

Pine Studios, the developer behind the hit Faraway series, is back with a brand new game. Another great addition to the Myst-like escape puzzle series, you might ask? The answer is no, although there are still puzzles abound. This time around, they’ve come out with a brand new IP heavily inspired by Harry Potter. If you’re a fan of puzzles and the Harry Potter series, then prepare to lose yourself in The Academy: The First Riddle.

ShackNewsOzzie Mejia

6/10

The Academy has the kind of premise that should make it feel more special than it is. It certainly shines with its different array of puzzles. But the game's characters and their dialogue make this feel as exciting as Algebra class. I should feel more excited about the extracurriculars, but instead, The Academy's shortcomings had me watching the clock and waiting for the bell to ring.

TheSixthAxisSteve C

6/10

The Academy isn’t a bad game, per se, but promises far more than it delivers. Its influences are too clearly worn on its sleeve and it ends up less than the sum of its parts. The school is too small and the puzzles just not exciting enough to really draw you in. The target audience is probably much less jaded than me and younger players will probably enjoy the combination of Hogwarts-esque schooling and puzzles, but it’s a difficult title to recommend for experienced puzzle gamers.

Capsule ComputersJamie Laike Tsui

4.5/10

A decent world dragged down by repetitive gameplay, dreadful writing, and awkward animations.

PC InvasionAndrew Farrell

4/10

The Academy has a weak narrative, poor puzzles, and game-breaking bugs. This is one invitation you're going to want to avoid.