By Ben Wright (@Iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Synopsis: A grizzled private eye in a sci-fi adventure takes a murder case no one else will touch. He’s seen it all before, but nothing’s prepared him for a conspiracy that leads off-world. Something big is about to happen. Whatever it is… it goes live at midnight.
Fans of Cosmic Void’s previous titles, including Devil’s Hideout, Neon Hearts City, and Twilight Oracle, will immediately recognise a lot of familiar DNA here. At this point, you can spot a Cosmic Void game almost instantly. There is a certain mood and aesthetic running through all their work, this retro sci-fi grime mixed with strange humour and surprisingly heartfelt storytelling, and honestly, it just works for me every time. If you are into point-and-click adventures, especially the older LucasArts style of games, there is a good chance this world will click with you pretty quickly, too.
The story itself mixes detective noir with weird sci-fi concepts, which is already a combination I am usually sold on before I even press “New Game”. What begins as a fairly straightforward murder mystery slowly spirals into something stranger, introducing odd locations, surreal little details, and characters that all feel slightly off in the best way possible. There is also an interesting contrast between the urban environments and the animal influences woven throughout the world. It is hard to explain without sounding bizarre, but the game somehow makes those ideas feel natural together. Even some of the puzzles tie into those themes, which helps the whole thing feel connected rather than random weirdness for the sake of it.
The full voice cast adds a lot, too. Honestly, the game probably could have worked perfectly well as a text-only adventure because the writing is strong enough to carry it, but having proper performances makes the world feel far more alive. Rowdy York is especially good as Simm, really leaning into that tired private investigator energy without overdoing it. There is this constant feeling that the character has seen far too much already, but York still gives him enough dry humour and sarcasm to stop things from becoming overly grim. It is a really enjoyable performance.
The supporting cast all pull their weight as well. Kate De Quidt as Zora, Lottie Bourne as Lucy, and Jordan Harrelson as Smoke all bring plenty of personality to their roles, and even smaller side characters leave an impression. One thing I genuinely appreciated was that even when actors were voicing multiple characters, it never became distracting. Everyone still felt distinct enough that the world came across as busy and lived in, rather than a handful of voices being recycled over and over.
Runtime-wise, you are probably looking at anywhere between an hour and a half to around five hours, depending on how you play. Personally, I took my time with it. I am one of those people who clicks on everything, walks back and forth between locations for no reason, and spends ages looking at background details instead of progressing the story properly. Thankfully, the game supports that slower style of play quite well.
One feature I really liked was how locations disappear from the fast-travel map once you have exhausted everything there. It is such a simple little quality-of-life thing, but it genuinely helps stop you wandering in circles. Importantly, though, it never feels like the game is dragging you by the hand either. You still have the freedom to explore and work things out yourself. It just quietly nudges you in the right direction now and then, which I think newer players to the genre will really appreciate.
Visually, the game is gorgeous. Cosmic Void’s pixel art style has become instantly recognisable at this point, but Midnight Saturn might be their best-looking game yet. The environments feel detailed and properly lived in, and there is much more animation than I expected going in. Little things, like flickering candle flames, arcade machines flashing away in the background, or NPCs casually smoking while you explore, add so much atmosphere. It stops locations from feeling static, which can sometimes happen with pixel adventure games. Here, it always feels like life is carrying on around you.
There was one forest area in particular, drenched in deep purples and blacks, that immediately reminded me of The Secret of Monkey Island. Whether that was intentional or not, I have no idea, but it hit that same nostalgic feeling those old adventure games used to capture so effortlessly.
Gameplay-wise, this is classic point-and-click stuff. You search environments, combine items, solve puzzles, and slowly piece everything together. Thankfully, the puzzle logic feels natural for the most part. There were definitely a couple of moments where I stopped and thought, “Alright… what exactly am I supposed to be doing here then?”, but the game usually gives you enough information through dialogue and exploration that you work it out before frustration really sets in.
Most importantly, it avoids that old-school point-and-click problem where games become awkwardly cryptic just to stretch out the runtime. I never found myself randomly clicking every item on screen out of desperation, which honestly feels quite rare for the genre sometimes. The puzzles still make you think, but they rarely feel unfair, and that balance helps keep the story moving nicely.
The soundtrack, produced by Double Dot Studios, is another big plus. The music shifts nicely depending on where you are and what is happening, with some tracks leaning into noir-inspired synth while others go much heavier on the sci-fi atmosphere. It all blends together really smoothly, though, so the soundtrack never feels disconnected from the world or story.
Also, and this is very important, you can make a fuss of the dog. Automatic bonus points from me there.
Midnight Saturn is a really enjoyable sci-fi adventure with gorgeous pixel art, strong performances, and puzzle design that understands how to challenge players without constantly frustrating them. More than anything, though, it just has personality. For point-and-click fans especially, this is well worth checking out.
X-Geeks 