Behind the Frame is a cozy puzzle game that looks like a Studio Ghibli movie. It's not very long—it took me around two hours to get through the entire thing— but it's bursting with charm and is more bittersweet than it appears to be.
At first, Behind the Frame asked me to step into the life of an aspiring artist. I put on music, made myself some breakfast, brushed up my resume, and worked on my latest painting. It was a fairly simple routine, but there were mysteries around me that I couldn't really explain.
The gameplay in Behind the Frame is simple, yet immersive. There's a little bit of painting, a touch of life simulation, and some light puzzle-solving. This gameplay loop was fairly relaxing, but what really makes this game feel special is its story. If you've spent time thinking about the past and what could have been, you'll be able to connect to its narrative.
If you enjoy relaxing, story-driven games, you'll love playing through Behind the Frame. It won't keep you busy for long, but the beautiful visuals, lovely music, and compelling narrative will stick with you even after you're done playing. It's hard to talk about without spoiling the story, but the game's mysteries are worth solving!