A little crow in a suit, a sword too big for him, and a soul administration going badly wrong.

Death's Door's profile is nearly flawless. Controller pleasure ahead of 95% of games, art style and fun around 91%, the wish to rediscover it at 88%, the soundtrack at 86%. A machine, line after line. And yet two numbers break the run: attachment, way down, ahead of fewer than one game in five, and desert island barely at average. That's the game's real tension. It's brilliant to play, gorgeous, memorable in the moment, but something doesn't quite hook into the heart. It's beautifully made, it isn't quite yours. Worth noting those two low lines rest on few duels, so treat them as unconfirmed.

Against the benchmarks of isometric action adventure, it holds its ground with ease: the combat is crisp, the readability exemplary, and the grey, melancholic world carries a real identity. What it may lack is length, a compact adventure leaves less room for slow attachment.

So, who is it for? For you if you like precise combat, a restrained and striking art direction, well hidden secrets, and an adventure that doesn't overstay. Much less so if you're looking for the game you'll keep for life.