PLATFORM: PC, SWITCH (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 21ST

Horace follows a robot’s journey of self-discovery, from his arrival at the home of a wealthy Professor to an epic time-travelling intergalactic adventure… The story is very much front and centre, with players relying on cutscenes to tell them what to do next. Narrated by the innocent yet smart Horace in his synthesised robot tone, he often gives the impression he doesn’t really understand what he’s saying, but the player is always in on the joke. A lot of the humour and references might be lost on those unfamiliar with UK “culture” of days gone by (mainly from the late 70s to mid-90s), but those with a fondness for old British nonsense will be in their element.

The bulk of the gameplay sees Horace making his way through a wide variety of 2D environments with his gravity boots that allow him to stick to most surfaces. Levels rotate as Horace switches between platforms, allowing for plenty of inventive surprises as well as some rather fiendish puzzles. The difficulty really ramps up in the second half of the game, but infinite lives and generous checkpoints mean that it rarely feels too punishing. There are also many mini-games, from rhythm-based “jobs” (sorting parcels, shaping bricks, drying dishes for old ladies…) to old-school arcade games, which break things up nicely.

Full of quirky, eccentric characters, “mature” humour and challenging gameplay, Horace might look unassuming at first glance but it’s by far one of the most engaging and enjoyable indie games to appear for a long time. Its expertly-crafted story expands way beyond anything that the opening hour or two might suggest, and there are a staggering amount of ideas crammed into the game’s 15 or so hours. 4.5 out of 5 (due to a few minor navigational issues), but we don’t do half stars so we’ll round it up. It really is that good!