Keeper is one of the most enlightening games I’ve played this year. A lighthouse sprouts tendril-like legs, learns to walk and travels through an artistically inspired and mysterious world. It’s a wild concept, but it works so wonderfully. The game also features an incredible gameplay flip that left me in awe.
Developed by Double Fine Productions, the team behind Psychonauts, Keeper confidently tells a heartwarming story without a single piece of narrative text or dialogue, just the creeks and crashes of an old lighthouse and the squawks of his newfound bird friend.
The Keeper Awakens
On a mysterious island, a lighthouse stirs to life. Taking control, you’ll stumble through its first steps, wobbling and collapsing until you find your rhythm. Soon you’re sprinting ahead, and falling becomes a distant memory — much like a few of the game’s early mechanics.
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The lighthouse journeys across the land with the help of a bird named Twig. When promoted, Twig can fly over to a puzzle object, turn a lever or collect a key.
The game heavily focuses on light, light puzzles and the help of your friend to get by. Which may sound basic, but the further you progress, the more the game expands its mechanics
By default, you control a wide beam of light used to interact with objects. Holding the right trigger narrows it into a focused beam, activating puzzle mechanics and clearing obstacles in your path.
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You can also hold down the “A” button to ram through fragile pieces of the environment, which conveniently doubles as the Lighthouse’s run command — it’s adorable. The same button comes back into play later, unlocking a few new mechanics as the story progresses.
A Mysterious World
You’ll eventually come across a section of the island filled with what looks like fairy floss and bubble gum, though the more you get covered in the pink fluff, the high and farther you can jump and float. These platforming sequences were a highlight.
As the story unfolds, time itself becomes part of the puzzle, introducing genuinely clever mechanics. A few moments completely flip the experience on its head — but those are best discovered on your own.
Eventually, the game delivers a twist that had me grinning from ear to ear — seriously, just go play it.
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Keeper lets the player run free, without the stress of finding dozens of collectibles. Though there are some hidden shrines to find along the way, I never felt like I was missing any crucial story moments.
The game also features a few accessibility options, including screen narration, text size and weight, a toggle for motion blur and vibration sensitivity.
Given there’s not a whole lot of text in the game, it’s accessible for all ages. I played the first half of the game with my kids and although the game has a PG rating, there wasn’t anything overly scary.
Visuals and Performance
The journey across the island is like walking through a painting. You can see brushstrokes and colours blending throughout the landscapes and environments — almost every screenshot looks like it would sit happily on a canvas.
I’d love a photo mode or perhaps some more camera options; there’s so much wonderful art on display here that I need to get a closer look at.
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The game ran mostly smooth, though the framerate dipped a few times during cutscenes. Nothing game breaking, but it was noticeable; a day one patch has been confirmed by Double Fine Productions.
Should I play Keeper?
Keeper is visually hypnotic, with engaging, evolving gameplay and a heartwarming story that could resonate across the world. If you enjoy light-hearted puzzle adventures, this is one to keep close.
There’s so much more I want to scream about this game, but doing so will spoil more of what makes it so great. It’s easily my favourite Xbox title of the year.
Keeper is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store on October 18th.
Quest Daily scores Keeper:
9/10
A copy of Keeper was supplied to Quest Daily by the publisher.
