Loud And Clear

A low-budget sci-figame with smarts, Big Robot’sThe Signal From Tölva is a cerebral treat. 

- Chris Schilling

Following on from the interestingly flawed Sir, You Are Being Hunted, The Signal From Tölva is a game about adapting to and managing your limitations. Which is exactly what developer Big Robot has done: this tiny British team has defied its constraints with a rugged and characterful sci-fishooter that skilfully blends splendid world-building with taut action.

You explore the planet Tölva remotely, hijacking a surveyor robot to investigate the signal in question. Other surveyors will happily ignore you – though later you’ll be able to recruit them to fight alongside you – but robot factions (Zealots and Bandits) scattered across the map will shoot on sight.

You have a handful of objectives at any given time: as you complete them, you gain access to better gear, and rank up. It’s technically open-world but there’s some subtle gating, and the way the environment is designed often funnels you down relatively narrow routes.

These are smart choices for what is a relatively compact world, giving Big Robot some control over the pacing and storytelling without making you feel too forcefully guided.