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.
Players control Iris Dormer, a veteran reporter searching for her estranged 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.
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]
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.
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 expressed 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]
| 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] |