Imaginal

From time to time, it’s nice to stop and think about random things for a while, or just daydream without having to stick to a strict train of thought. As time goes by and we get older, such moments become rarer and rarer, because we would much rather occupy our minds with problems and plans rather than let our imagination spar with philosophical conundrums.

Imaginal is a simple and relaxing video game designed to help you let go of stress and mundane issues for a couple of minutes, in order to focus on catching fireflies in the night. Some interesting thoughts are presented as well, which have the purpose of helping you think about something else for a change, something that doesn’t necessarily need or have an objective answer.

The gameplay is about as simple as it can get: there are fireflies flying around the dark forest, and you must use your jar to catch them when they light up. They only stay lit for a fraction of a second, so you need to be quick about it. There’s no punishment for failing to catch any, but the game provides you with valuable insight and ideas if you manage to snatch the blue fireflies.

Although you start in almost complete darkness, the night slowly fades away over the course of a few minutes. At the end, the game display the total number of fireflies you managed to catch, as well as the number of insights you have read. Naturally, there is a finite number of text snippets included with the game, so they might start repeating themselves after a few playthroughs.

Visually, the first few minutes are rather dark, so you might not be able to appreciate the beauty of the environments. As the morning approaches and the forest gets showered in light, you get to admire the rich palette of colors, as well as the soothing level design. A calming soundtrack keeps the mood at a steady pace throughout the adventure.

In the end, Imaginal is a game that deserves a try from everyone, regardless of your usual preferences. There’s nothing wrong with taking a break from the world and getting lost in silly thoughts, especially if you feel like you need to keep the stress at bay.