REACTION - Annapurna Interactive Nailed Their Showcase

Jolly and varied vibes.

By Jay Tee
30/07/21

As more and more big publishers begin to host their own digital presentations, we’ve seen the best of times (think Xbox’s E3 2021 show, or last years PS5 showcase), and the worst of times (like Koch Media’s frankly bizarre effort at E3 2021, despite an amazing behind closed doors equivalent).

Thankfully, Annapurna Interactive have smashed their first attempt, with a fascinating collection of new announcements and partnerships that coalesced into a highly enjoyable and tightly paced affair. Highlights included The Artful Escape, a trippy side scroller with a distinct visual style, A Memoir Blue, an emotional narrative adventure, and of course Stray, an adventure about a cat in a strange alternate world.

There’s clearly more brewing, with some new projects still in early development. Outer Loop (Falcon Age), Nocode (Observation), and Ivy Road, a new studio from the brains behind Stanley Parable and Gone Home, are all cooking up some indie goodness. It was honestly an excellent all round event, and we can’t wait to see more.

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TARPS?

At the bottom of some of our articles, you’ll see a series of absurd looking images (with equally stupid, in joke laden names). These are the TARP badges, which represent our ‘Totally Accurate Rating Platform’. They allow us to identify specific things, recognise positive or negative aspects of a games design, and generally indulge our consistent silliness with some visual tomfoolery.