The Moon Sliver

The Good
The Moon Sliver is the type of game that grows on you. It may not seem like much at the very beginning, but as you gradually immerse yourself in what it has to offer, its atmosphere and storytelling grow stronger, finally leaving you with an experience that will probably stay with you for a while.

The thing that stands out the most about The Moon Sliver is the structure and mechanics of its storytelling. It doesn't rely on reading exposition in scattered notes or on lengthy monologues. Instead, it provides third-person narration appearing on the screen depending on where your character stands, which is a clever way to make the storytelling more natural and immersive. The execution of this idea may be a little awkward at times, as some "hitboxes" for each piece of narration are too big or too small, but the overall outcome is still really effective.

While The Moon Sliver deals with a similar overall theme as Szymański's earlier indie hit Fingerbones - the way a very small group of people would deal with a vaguely post-apocalyptic world - the approach is very different. Where Fingerbones went for shock value, The Moon Sliver genuinely explores its characters. Where Fingerbones failed at mixing deliberate understatements and direct attempts at disgusting the player, The Moon Sliver slowly but surely immerses you in mystery. It's delicate, but not bland.

Another thing The Moon Sliver gets right is the atmosphere. The island where the events take place feels hopeless, lonely and desolate from the get go - and as the story progresses and dusk approaches, it becomes genuinely unnerving. Towards the end of the game, there is also a short but intense maze-like sequence which effectively builds tension with dark, unwelcoming corridors and a vague yet constantly present sense of danger.

The Bad
Apart from minor technical issues related to how and where the text displays, The Moon Sliver's biggest problem is that its slow burn might just prove too slow relative to its short length. There's not that much happening in the game and fully appreciating its storytelling and atmosphere might take some players two separate playthroughs even though the story progression is completely linear.

The Bottom Line
The Moon Sliver is a subtle game with a novel approach to story presentation, a lonely and unnerving atmosphere, and an interesting, mysterious narrative. 7/10