While there are plenty of indie games out there that adhere to some formula or another, whether loosely based on a popular game, or just a current trend, there are also those that set out on their own path. As I’ve noted many times before, that’s a risky path to potential failure, perhaps the hope of some sort of breakout massive success, but sometimes just to a unique experience that has merit but may not appeal to everyone. Afterplace is absolutely an odd bird, a fact in part tied to its mobile origins, which can demand some sacrifices to traditional game design. That said, it’s undeniably quirky nature and the fact that it simply feels quite different, could also appeal to the right audience.

The best way I can describe the game would be first to say it’s a much more unusual and ultimately watered-down version of a top-down classic adventure in the mold of The Legend of Zelda and others. If you keep all of the exploration, streamline the combat a bit, and then pretty well eliminate the puzzles from that classic formula, you’d have something resembling the base experience here. You’ll try to work your way through areas that can often feel maze-like, looking for both the way forward as well as hidden surprises, and then encounter a pretty diverse set of potential enemies along the way. While the combat isn’t terribly deep, it does do the job, and you’ll need to be careful because some of the monsters have a talent for catching you off guard. Fortunately, there tends to be pretty plentiful healing around, so for the most part you should be fine.

The biggest challenge to enjoyment would likely be the aforementioned maze-like areas you’ll work through. Without the help of a map, or even any sort of in-game guidance on where you’ll ultimately want to go, a fair amount of wandering around a bit lost feels inevitable here. Granted, that will often result in finding new hidden spots as you backtrack through, but since that can sometimes make you feel even more lost, it doesn’t help. The game’s odd sense of humor and story bits do make for some memorable moments at times, but the loss of satisfying puzzles and all to balance out the regular formula may be sorely missed depending on the player. There’s no doubt the game does its own thing, but that also may make it a bit more niche in the end.