If I see a game published by Devolver Digital, chances are I will buy it if it’s on sale. Which is why I purchased Umiro last month.
It’s a good, quality puzzle game but it’s also clear it was designed for mobile interfaces. To be sure, I don’t mind mobile games that are ported to PC.
However, I think the developers missed an opportunity to allow this game to be played in portrait mode. In landscape, it just feels there’s wasted real estate – especially since the cutscenes feel like they were meant to be used with a smartphone in portrait. I’d also have a lot more real estate to solve the puzzles.
Steam Deck, which I play this on, has a 7” touchscreen. If this game allowed for portrait, I could take full advantage of the touchscreen. Yet, as it is now, the game feels cramped.
On a larger screen, yeah, it’s less cramped – yet you still have to contend with all that wasted space, and it feels awkward.
But again, Umiro is enjoyable. I like it. The puzzles are head scratchers, the music is wistful, and I like the characters. The PC port, though, could have been better. If you’re going to play this, play it on your phone.
