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Phoenix Springs is a 2024 point-and-click video game developed and published by Calligram Studio. The PC version was released on Steam on October 7th, 2024.

Gameplay

Players control Iris Dormer, a veteran reporter searching for her lost brother. Unlike in traditional point-and-click games where characters collect physical items, Iris gathers information such as names, ideas or phrases.[1] She must connect these clues with the world around her or ask NPCs about them in order to progress.

Development

Phoenix Springs was funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2017. The final game trailer premiered at the Day of the Devs showcase during Summer Game Fest 2024.[2]

Themes

In an interview with The New York Times, writer and designer Jigmé Özer stated that Phoenix Springs investigates themes at the heart of Buddhism, such as death and the nature of reality.[1] He said the game’s inspirations included Don DeLillo’s novel Zero K, which explores the philosophical implications of life-extending technology, as well as his own research into dementia villages.

Reception

Review aggregator website Open Critic determined that 77% of critics recommended the game.[3] It received “mixed or average” reviews according to Metacritic.[4] Some reviewers noted frustration with the surreal and abstract storytelling, while praising the art direction and quality of the writing. The Verge called it “unsettling, smart, and emotionally cathartic”.[5] Polygon said it was “a lesson in using negative space, both visually and narratively”.[6] TheGamer rated it 5/5, declaring it “a vibrant reinvention of the point-and-click.”[7]

Accolades

Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
2025 Games for Change Best In Innovation Nominated [8]
New York Game Awards Herman Melville Award for Best Writing Nominated [8]
2024 A MAZE Wings Prize Nominated [9]
  1. ^ a b Byrd, Christopher (2024-10-15). "A Philosophical Journey With Clicks of a Mouse". The New York Times. Retrieved 2025-11-16.
  2. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (2024-06-17). "Day of the Devs 2024: Everything Announced". IGN. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  3. ^ "Phoenix Springs". OpenCritic. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  4. ^ "Phoenix Springs". Metacritic. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  5. ^ Gordon, Lewis (2024-10-07). "Phoenix Springs reimagines the point-and-click adventure as weird noir". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  6. ^ Hannah, Zoe (2024-10-07). "Phoenix Springs is a lesson in using negative space, both visually and narratively". Polygon. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  7. ^ Kaur, Tessa (2024-10-07). "Phoenix Springs Review - A Vibrant Reinvention Of The Point-And-Click". TheGamer. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  8. ^ a b McEvoy, Sophie (2025-06-30). "Games for Change 2025 Awards winners unveiled". GamesIndustry.biz.
  9. ^ "Phoenix Springs". A MAZE. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

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