The Red Pearls of Borneo is the best game I have ever played on Itch.
As a lover of true crime, history, and puzzles, this game hit all my interests. If you look at this game from a broad range, its mechanics are simple, but they're so rewarding.
The artwork is amazing, and the writing is impressive. Once I started playing, I couldn't stop (until my body demanded sleep).
I love non-linear games like this, and I tried using different playstyles throughout my game. You can have fun by following an individual character or by trying to place everyone in one time slot.
There were a couple of times when I felt stuck, and I had to retrace my steps. However, this isn't a complaint; it's praise. I loved how I had to retrace and use my critical thinking skills to piece together everyone's whereabouts.
I also loved the glossary and learning more about Borneo and what regular civilians endured during the war. Most history classes cover the soldiers and governments during the war, which is important, but learning about specific places and ordinary civilians is also important and is often overlooked.
To anyone contemplating playing this game, just play it. Give it a chance. It has quickly become one of my favourites across all platforms. Since it's a mystery, one might assume it lacks replayability, but that's not true. I just finished my first playthrough, and I can't wait to go in for my second. Now that I know the full story, I can't wait to replay it, knowing what the characters did and what their outcomes were. I'd like to interpret each character's feelings at critical points in the story.
I cannot wait to see what else you create bushmonkey. I'll be following closely along, and I have full confidence that any games you may make in the future will be absolute BANGERS. Seriously, I have endless praise for you.