Cardamom Demo

Games can be used as educational tools sometimes, even if most people think of them as ways for people to slaughter demons or fight aliens for supremacy. Some have tried to mix video games with maths or various other such subjects, and although this doesn’t always work, it’s all about making the experience both fun and educational at the same time, which is no easy task.

Cardamom is a point & click adventure game in which you play as a cat that finds three new friends in a nearby apartment building. The game is also an interactive musical, given the fact that most of the story is relayed in the form of simple songs, which should keep the younger audience engaged. However, the mechanics are as simple as they can get too, so everyone can jump right in.

The story starts with the cat coming across an apartment complex where three interesting individuals live. The game’s purpose is to teach children about balancing life and work, given the fact that the three characters have very different takes on what that means. Thankfully, the cat can help them get on the right path and sort out their lives before it’s too late.

As mentioned before, a big chunk of the story is presented in the form of songs, but don’t expect anything too complex. The musical pieces are very basic and short, and the same goes for the lyrics. However, the artists are definitely talented, and you can tell that they have at least some sort of background in music. The puzzles are designed to be obvious and enjoyable, since all you have to do is click on objects every now and again.

You can move from one apartment to the other and interact with the characters, as well as try to make them feel better by keeping them warm or helping them clean up their act. The controls are entirely mouse-based, so you do not have to struggle with keyboard shortcuts or anything of the sort. The graphics are very pleasant, even if they are far from detailed.

In the end, the most important aspect throughout Cardamom is the lesson it tries to teach its audience, and the message gets across pretty loudly. Hence, it’s worth a shot if you like short adventures, and it’s also a nice game to show your kids.