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Phoenix Springs review: A dazzling and disquieting sci-fi mystery

Playing Phoenix Springs feels like being trapped in a gorgeous dream that’s steadily becoming a nightmare. It’s a point-and-click mystery set in a bleak futuristic world of dramatic shadows and muted primary colors, its scenes connected by streams of anxious static.

Her hunt takes her from the abandoned buildings of a rundown city, to a rich suburb, and finally to Phoenix Springs, a desert oasis bathed in golden light and occupied by a handful of odd, disconnected people. There’s a mid-century edge to the game’s technology — globe lights, push-button intercoms, bulky computer terminals and long train rides — which makes the world feel intensely familiar, at least until the stasis pods appear. In the case of Phoenix Springs, stunning art direction, expert writing, incredible sound design, fabulous voice acting and satisfying mechanics combine to create an unforgettable, utterly unique sci-fi experience.

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