10 people found this review helpful
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 3.6 hrs on record
Posted: 24 May, 2023 @ 6:26pm
Updated: 24 May, 2023 @ 6:29pm
Product received for free

A clever and intelligent puzzle game with an original premise

Your wife is an odd bird. She enjoys dressing up in various costumes, inventing murder crime scenes and playing dead. The only way to revive her is to work out what she requires and give it to her. If you get it wrong she won't be happy and she will make you do the task again, like when I gave her a bowl of rice instead of egg fried rice!

If Only I could Go Home Early is a clever puzzle game with a premise I have never seen before. It can be quite challenging, especially towards the latter of the twenty levels, and I did have to look up answers on a few occasions.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2976773784

There's a nice tutorial to inch you into the game play, which is point and click based, with very basic controls and little mini games scattered here and there. There are some really obscure and often bizarre puzzles to solve, but always very imaginative and fresh. Some are observational, like watching out for number combinations to unlock a safe, and others require interacting with objects, like cooking rice in a rice cooker, or opening the fridge. There are items scattered around which stay in your inventory until you use them. Items are never combined, but you will need to use every item, so they always have a purpose.

Each level has its own story and is often introduced with a nice pixel art cut scene. I loved the look of the game and enjoyed each story. They're not long stories at all, more suggestions of their life together and as you progress you get to know more about them, but it's certainly not a narrative experience. It was just done in a charming and likeable fashion.

Take a look at the game play for more of an idea.
🎬Gameplay Video🎬
https://youtu.be/rOkKkH8LPaU

🍳Conclusion🍳
If Only I Could Go Home Early is a charming and novel experience and stands out from most puzzle games I have played. It's difficult to fit in an original concept among the barrage of puzzle games out there, but this certainly feels new and innovative, with bizarre and amusing puzzle solutions, which can be very difficult.

For the price it is an easy recommendation.

Follow IndieGems and Indie Blast! for more reviews like this one.
Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny Award
3 Comments
janner66 25 May, 2023 @ 9:59am 
Thanks One Man Army. Sorry to increase your backlog!!

Thanks Drugoja. It's quirky and fun. I think you'll enjoy it :)
Drugo⚸a 25 May, 2023 @ 7:30am 
Another charming Chinese puzzle game, cheap too. The premise is very unique and amusing. Will pick this up soon-ish. Thanks for reviewing it :ayos_ok:
One Man Army 25 May, 2023 @ 12:23am 
If Only I Could Revive You One More Time! :ccskull:

Nice review as always! :btd6thumbsup:
The game looks interesting, I will add it to my backlog. :csdsmile: