Devolver games are something else. If you’ve played them, you know. But Cricket Through the Ages goes above and beyond in trying to be as quirky as possible. The result: a mess. A fun mess.
This delightful indie title takes players on a journey through different eras, putting a unique twist on cricket matches in each time period. There’s not a lot of cricketing going though: you fight your enemy with a lightsaber, play soccer, tennis etc. The gameplay is unpredictable, that’s where the charm lies.
The gameplay itself is a bit weird: it definitely plays like a mobile game with only one button actually doing something. It’s physics-based, but no skill is required: characters flop around the screen as if by themselves, and I found it nearly impossible to invent a winning strategy. It’s great for a company of non-gamers, but it also loses its charm quickly.
Read also: Penny’s Big Breakaway review: sorry, Sonic, I have a new favorite
The artistic design is utterly charming, with each era brimming with colorful details and amusing visual gags. The cheeky humor extends to the voiceover too.
Cricket Through the Ages is a game that’s hard to recommend but also impossible to hate. Its wacky, irreverent, and gloriously silly take on the sport makes it a fun multiplayer party game but it’s not great for solo players. It’s also not something I will be going back to: after experiencing it a few times, I feel like I’ve seen it all.