Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love

The game manages to show you the revolting living conditions of the people living under communism and dictatorship while still keeping a humorous tone, and I applaud them for that.
The help option is also cleverly integrated into the story, and easter eggs have been planted here and there.
It's been a while I hadn't played a point & click game, and I'm glad I did.

Communism bad
The game is 12/10
PS honestly the communist regime representation is waaaay more accurate than one might assume

Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love is a colorful and self-aware point-and-click adventure that proudly embraces classic genre traditions while delivering a satirical take on Cold War–inspired politics and propaganda. Developed and published by Artifex Mundi, the game follows Evan Kovalsky, an idealistic journalist who travels to the fictional authoritarian country of Matryoshka in search of a story, only to find himself caught in a whirlwind of mistaken identity, state-controlled absurdity, and espionage-fueled nonsense. From the very beginning, the game establishes a tone that is humorous, exaggerated, and unapologetically playful, using caricature and irony rather than realism to drive its narrative.
The story unfolds as Evan’s naive admiration for Matryoshka’s political system is quickly challenged by the bizarre reality of life under an omnipresent regime. Through encounters with an eclectic cast of characters—including zealous officials, paranoid soldiers, and propaganda-spouting citizens—the game paints a world where logic bends to ideology and common sense is often the first casualty. While the narrative does not aim for emotional depth or dramatic twists, it succeeds in maintaining momentum through witty dialogue and situational humor, allowing Evan’s gradual shift from wide-eyed outsider to reluctant participant to anchor the experience.
Gameplay stays firmly rooted in traditional point-and-click mechanics, focusing on exploration, dialogue, and puzzle-solving through item collection and combination. Players navigate hand-drawn environments packed with interactive elements, many of which double as visual jokes or satirical commentary. Puzzles are generally intuitive and well-integrated into the world, often requiring creative reuse of items rather than obscure leaps of logic. This flexibility encourages experimentation and makes the inventory feel like a toolkit rather than a list of single-use objects, which helps reduce frustration common in older adventure games.
To further smooth the experience, the game includes modern quality-of-life features such as optional highlights for interactable objects and a layered hint system. Rather than bluntly providing answers, hints gently nudge players in the right direction, preserving the satisfaction of solving puzzles independently. This design choice makes the game approachable for newcomers to the genre while still offering enough challenge to engage seasoned adventure fans. Pacing is mostly steady, though occasional backtracking and slower character movement can slightly interrupt the flow.
Visually, Irony Curtain stands out with its hand-painted art style that evokes the charm of classic adventure games while maintaining a polished, contemporary look. Characters are expressive and exaggerated, perfectly matching the game’s satirical tone, and environments are rich with detail that rewards careful observation. Visual humor is woven into nearly every scene, from background gags to subtle environmental storytelling, reinforcing the game’s comedic identity without relying solely on dialogue.
Audio presentation further enhances the atmosphere. The soundtrack complements the setting with playful, thematic compositions that underscore both tension and comedy, while voice acting brings characters to life with confident performances that lean into caricature without becoming grating. Accents and delivery are intentionally exaggerated, reinforcing the absurdity of the setting and supporting the game’s satirical intent rather than distracting from it.
While Irony Curtain excels in presentation and puzzle design, its satire can sometimes feel broad rather than incisive. The humor relies heavily on stereotypes and exaggerated tropes, which works well for lighthearted parody but may leave players wishing for sharper commentary or more nuanced storytelling. Additionally, the overall length and scope are modest, making the game feel more like a focused vignette than a sprawling adventure epic.
Despite these limitations, Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love succeeds as a polished and entertaining homage to classic point-and-click adventures. It understands the strengths of the genre—clever puzzles, strong art direction, and character-driven storytelling—and modernizes them without losing their charm. For players who enjoy humorous adventures, political satire wrapped in absurdity, and thoughtfully designed puzzles, the game offers a memorable and satisfying journey that celebrates the joy of classic adventure design while adding its own ironic twist.
Rating: 8/10

I liked this game a lot. It is at the top of my list of point and click adventure games I most enjoyed playing. I liked the art style of the game. I also thought the story was fun. The game also had the right difficulty, not too easy and not too hard. You don’t need to consult a walkthrough to finish the game. All in all it are playing hours well spent.

This game was a lot of fun - felt kind of like a throwback to better gaming days...
Polished game with excellent music, voice acting and writing.
Recommended!

It is good. But first half was very good and the later part of the game less good.

This is, by far, one of my best games I've played! It immediately became an all-time favorite!

It's wildly entertaining, ridiculously hilarious, unpredictable, and worth every minute I've spent playing it so far (74% done). While I don't know how the ending will go, it will have to be a monumental disappointment for me to give this game lower marks. If you like Return to Monkey Island, Kelvin and the Infamous Machine, and even games like Fran Bow, this is one you have to add to your library!!!!