Pilgrims

My Playtime: 1.4h (100% achievement, finished the game)
My First Playthrough: 54 minutes
Grindy Achievement(s): No.
Optional Achievement(s): Yes (~32 achievements).
Difficult Achievement(s): No.
Intro
Pilgrims is a short adventure game where you have to explore an island to find something to do. You will receive quests from people, but they will only tell you what they want in pictures, and it's up to you to figure out how to achieve that. The game is very flexible in how you solve the quest itself, giving alternatives that you can try (and figure out) to finish them.
Pros:
- Multiple ways to solve a quest
- Freedom to finish the quest in any order that you want
- Fast forward option to make cutscene faster
- Hints to finish quests differently
Cons:
- Getting some items can be tedious
Specs
Intel Core i5-9300H 2.40GHz, 8GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
Should you buy this game?
Yes.
If you like unique, short games that have more than 1 way to solve quests, this game is for you.
In-Depth Review
Visuals
The interface is unique. Just like point-and-click games in general, it has objects, but both people and objects are represented by cards. You drag the card to the screen to see how it plays out, which will fall back as a card form if there is nothing to be done with that object. All of these actions were animated, an impressive feat that makes the game feel more alive.
I also liked the drawing style. The choice of making brown the dominant color plays well with the game setting and the characters are dressed in the same era to depict it better. Despite the lack of details, the characters are expressive and the dialogues are not that confusing to decipher.
The Game
Gameplay
The game is similar to point-and-click, albeit simpler. Characters and objects are stored as a card. You can get objects by clicking them on the screen, but to use them, you need to drag the character card to the screen to get them in play. Once a character is on the screen, you can drag an object card to make the character use it. Different characters excel in different ways; you will need a certain character to do what you need, and sometimes, use a certain object differently.
It's not hard to figure out which objects that you need to do. Despite not having any words in the dialogues, they express their needs clearly in the form of images. Moreover, it's also easier to remember the areas that you have to clear this way, since characters won't do anything in the areas that you cleared. Some objects can be tricky to find, but there are usually easier alternatives that you can try. Furthermore, they also can be brute-forced if you want; there aren't many objects to begin with so you won't spend a lot of time doing that.
There are multiple ways to solve a quest. While most quests are straightforward, some have different ways to clear, which are hinted at in the achievements section in the game. I like this design since you can freely finish the game as you like and can replay it to figure out the other variations that you missed. Since the game isn't linear, you also can go straight to get these quests yourself after getting the required items. Finishing some can be tricky since you need to be mindful of the order of the objects that you unlocked, but the others aren't that hard to figure out.
Length and Replayability
I finished the game in 54 minutes blind. I then replayed the game a few times without finishing it to unlock the rest of the achievements. As I said before, the game has replayability value if you are interested in unlocking all variations to finish the quests, which in turn will unlock all of the achievements.
Conclusion
Pilgrims is such a fresh take on point-and-click games. It's easy to finish, but it'll keep you engaged since you have to decipher what the character says and how to achieve it. And since there are a lot of ways to do it, you'll also end up spending more time to figure out how to get them all. It's a game that was meant to be played for its gameplay, and despite the short playtime, I had a lot of fun.

Pilgrims is a delightful interactive visual novel with a simple yet charming story. The game exudes a unique vibe of the forest, sprinkled with a touch of mysticism, which adds to its appeal. Its replayability and the multiple outcomes of your actions make it engaging and worth revisiting. A perfect choice for spending a cozy couple of hours. Highly recommended.

Short and sweet point and click adventure with superb art and enjoyable music. Not much to say, but for that price it's definitely worth playing at least once :)

Pilgrims is one of the best point and click games I’ve ever played, and it’s the perfect starter game for anyone interested in the genre. Amanita Design has truly outdone themselves with this one. From the moment I started playing, I was charmed by its unique art style and playful humor.
What sets Pilgrims apart is its creativity. Unlike many point and click games that force me down a single path, Pilgrims offers multiple solutions to puzzles, all of which are clever and comedic. This freedom to experiment and find different ways to progress made the game feel fresh and engaging every time I play it.
I love Pilgrims so much. It’s a game that captures everything I enjoy about point and click adventures while avoiding the frustrations that can sometimes come with the genre. Amanita Design has created a gem with Pilgrims, and it stands as one of their best works in my opinion. For anyone looking to get into point and click games, Pilgrims is the perfect place to start.

As you explore the map, you encounter various characters, each presenting its own challenge that can be solved in different ways. Items you collect and characters you befriend are turned into playable cards, so it's an interesting concept, like a card game. While short, the game is both enjoyable and engaging. I recommend it!

Simple, interesting and crazy! It's a shame that this game takes 30-120 minutes to complete :(

I was surprised at the amount of possible endings that could be obtained for each decision. I initially assumed that this would just be a straight forward point and click game, but its definitely worth giving a try when the game is on sale. I really liked the soundtrack too! :)