76) Merrily Perilly (2018)

Released in 2018, Merrily Perilly puts us in the role of Perry, an unfortunate man who can't seem to catch a break. We begin as Perry, who is already severely dehydrated, stumbles upon a small, unfamiliar town. With the goal of finding something to slake his thirst, we begin speaking to the eccentric residents which include bears, witches, vampires, mermaids, and most terrifying of all, would be comedians. With the clock ticking away, we have more than a few options for finding a drink however they all come with some new problem that Perry must contend with.

The entire premise of the game is an ever present countdown which, if it should run out, will lead to Perry's demise or utter humiliation. Once we find a solution to our dehydration, we're left with a new problem, whether it be diarrhea, leeches, bees, or what have you. When we get a new dilemma, we get a reset to our timer, forcing us on a seemingly never-ending quest in which we cycle through life threatening conditions. There are, however, a few ways in which we can find salvation, giving us a handful of possible endings.

The gameplay is simple, as we run from one crisis to another, and you can see the majority of what the game has to offer in a single sitting. The artstyle and writing are charming enough to keep the player engaged for the short duration, and there's a certain thrill involved in a timer that never really stops. There's also a certain joy in finding the different solutions to each problem, and the logic quickly becomes second nature as you run around shifting through problems to solve a particular puzzle.

Merrily Perilly is a charming take on the puzzle genre that makes up for its short runtime with a sense of humor and a sprinkling of secrets to find. It's a well made distraction that promises not to take up too much of your time while still providing a decent challenge as we try to keep our unfortunate idiot alive. It's not for everyone, but it's low price point won't break the bank and is a decent way to spend an hour or so of your time. There is a bit of replay value, bolstered by its shorter nature and pick up and play nature, but there's an unfortunate lack of depth that keeps the game from reaching its full potential.