Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is that rare game that educates as it entertains. Stuffed between its enjoyable (and not overly challenging) contextual puzzles is a mix of interesting details about the war. Some of these come in the form of important dates and cold hard facts, such as casualty statistics. Other informational tidbits are more emotional, including letters to and from the front lines and details regarding the first soldiers ever to suffer gas attacks. More, still, explain how the war revolutionized the world, from the invention of safety razors to the promotion of women's rights. Particularly noteworthy is the Nintendo Switch version, which includes a comic book that gives you more context around Walt the dog. If you're an animal lover, you'll be touched by this story of the dog and his litter mate Cassie as they are suddenly drafted into the war effort, and what happens to the young pups. Similarly, the touch controls, which can be a bit iffy, especially when it comes to throwing grenades, do manage to pull you closer into the gameplay by interacting with the screen instead of relying solely on button presses. It's a small change, but an effective one for the story.

Even if players elect to skip over the historical details (which is entirely possible), they'll undoubtedly be moved -- perhaps to tears -- by the story of a group of friends who risk their lives to help not only one another but also the civilians they encounter, including wounded men on the battlefield, women trapped in destroyed houses, and children crying in city streets clouded by plumes of green gas. It may be emotionally draining, but the characters and their story through this warfare is great enough to keep players going. If nothing else, they'll come away not only with an inkling of the horrors of the Great War but also the courage of those who lived and died in it. And if a game can do that, it has to be doing something right.