A game to keep you busy this weekend

ARE YOU GAME?

- Anusha Ganapathi @quofles

THE entire point of playing videogames is to be transported to a time and place that no longer exists or has never existed at all.

Whatever Keeper is, it certainly succeeds in doing exactly that. It introduced a universe with no humans. With vast expanses of colourful grasslands, a few helpful birds, and a sentient lighthouse. No evil enemies out to get me. A cool breeze drifts by as I gently press the buttons. And then my phone buzzed. The illusion shattered. I'm home again, and my cat is screaming at my chair.

For most video games, the immersion continues the moment you hit "resume". Unfortunately for Keeper, a single distraction can cause you to completely check out of the experience. That's it. You're no longer invested in the game, and you may never ever continue to play it. This is because it is an extremely short, simple game that relies completely on being "atmospheric" and "vibes-based". The older I get, the less patient I feel myself becoming, and less mentally available for games like Keeper.