If you like puzzle games based on physics - like "Portal" - than Relicta is a great pic for you.
Not only because it has interesting gameplay and sweet graphics, but also because it is currently available for free!
What is "Relicta"?
Physics plays a crucial role in the puzzles of Relicta.
You must understand and use gravity and magnetism to complete the levels. Thanks to sci-fi technology, you can also bend the laws of physics a bit to achieve your goals.
As with Portal, it should primarily depend on your clever mind.
Relicta is a first-person physics-based puzzle game where you need to creatively combine magnetism and gravity in order to unravel the secrets of Chandra Base. Alone in the treacherous depths of the Moon, your scientific mind is the only thing that can keep your daughter alive…
-as described by the developer Mighty Polygon
Memories of the failed experiment in the Black Mesa facility from "Half Life" come up
Gameplay
As in "Portal" you solve physics based puzzles but not in test chambers but on a terraformed planet.
Your "weapon of choice" are two gloves. One to change the polarity - in terms of magnetism - of objects (usually cubes) to positive, and one to change it to negative.
Further more, you are able to activate or deactivate the gravity affecting said cubes.
Two different polarities attract each other, same polarities push them away. Basic magnetism.
With deactivated gravity cubes can be pushed across the room/level or beeing used as elevator
The indoor and outdoor areas are well made and pretty to look at. Indoor levels are quite big, but usually there is not much to explore. Areas outside are basically a one way giving you a path that you have to riddle through.
How about the story
Well, do not expect a deep story with a broad lore.
Play as a top physicist stranded on an eerie, derelict Moon base. Find your way around the enigmatic, terraformed craters by bending gravity and magnetism to your will in order to solve physical puzzles. Will you rush straight ahead and try to reach safety - or will you take your time to gather clues and unravel the intrigues of 22nd century orbital politics? Buried in the eternal darkness of the lunar craters lies a secret that might claim your daughter’s life - or change the fate of humanity forever. Are you ready to face the ultimate consequences of your research?
Sounds a bit too promising in my opinion.
However, the story is well told and hidden parts like audio logs give you some insights about the facility and its research.
As in every modern research facility, things go wrong. "Have you tried turning it off and on again?"
Conclusion
If you're into wracking your brain, trying out creative ideas, and showing off your ingenuity, Relicta might be worth a look. However, despite the first-person perspective, don't expect an action game.
If you, as a fan of Portal and other puzzle games, are already starving when it comes to clever physics puzzles, I would definitely recommend that you try the current free game at Epic at least once.
I personaly had a couple of interesting hours with the game.
The puzzles are neither too easy nor too heavy or frustrating. Sometimes it takes a while till you figure out how to solve the current sector but there is always this "aha-effect" at some point.
Playing games is never a waste of time!
Relicta is currently available for FREE on the Epic Games Store
or
You can get it On Steam for ~20€ if you rather want to pay for it, for whatever reason ;)