When I was first presented with D-Topia for review, my first thought was “Oh, Nintendo is not going to like those Pokémon-adjacent character models…” Joking aside, I genuinely wasn’t sure what to expect with it because I was largely unaware of it. Despite Annapurna’s involvement, I had seen almost no marketing for this game, which seems odd given the pedigree of its publisher.
But as I’ve said in the past, sometimes going into a game completely blind can be a benefit, since you have few expectations and an unlimited capacity to be surprised. D-Topia is certainly an interesting game, albeit not particularly complex in its storytelling or gameplay. It’s like a bowl of tomato soup on a gloomy fall day—it’s not exactly filling, but it’s satisfying in its own unique way.
In D-Topia, players take on the role of a Facilitator named Shiro living in the titular D-Topia—an idyllic paradise where robots cater to humans’ every whim and an all-powerful A.I. oversees everything. Facilitators are required, however, to help both humans and robots with any and all problems, as well as spend their days solving computing problems at their Topia’s factory. Each new day brings new strange events, and players will entangle themselves within the lives of several unique characters and maybe decide the fate of their facility.
While I’m keeping things somewhat vague for the sake of spoilers, it’s a simple but charming plot that keeps itself interesting with a varied cast of characters and unique events over a six-day period. Despite its lack of complexity, there’s an earnestness to it that manages to keep players invested in both the overarching story and the minor stories of each character—each of whom has a distinct personality and unique way of talking.
Similar to its story, D-Topia’s gameplay is simple yet captivating. It’s essentially a collection of small brainteasers, usually involving numbers. Players will either move numbered blocks to the numbered sections where they belong, trace lines to numbered blocks so the total matches the endpoint, or even move a numbered block along a grid where each space increases the value by one.
While the puzzles serve the purpose of providing some gameplay to this otherwise narrative experience, there is a secondary function to it as well, particularly involving the player’s day-to-day job. Every day, players must work to progress the day, and only a handful of puzzles are required to be solved in order to proceed. However, if players wish to “work overtime” and solve more, they’ll be given a higher grade and bonus overtime pay.
“D-Topia isn’t a particularly complex game, but it is a nice one.”
Money can be spent on furnishings for their apartment or snacks that can be given as gifts to the story characters, or consumed, as players are required to eat three meals a day which are provided at their apartment. If players don’t feel like schlepping all the way back, they can eat a quick snack to keep the story moving. And the puzzles themselves offer a decent brain-teasing challenge while never being too difficult to comprehend or complete.
Aside from that, players will need to converse with characters, utilizing simple dialogue trees to try and answer in a way each character will respond to, as well as participate in “Brain Meetings,” which are a kind of flow chart where players answer yes or no questions in order to decide how key moments will progress. It’s all very neatly organized in its delivery that feels both satisfying to experience but also very deliberate and consistent with the themes of the narrative.
Visually, D-Topia has a bright, minimalist style that perfectly captures the sense of sterility and structure that is envisioned in its world. However, it does find some interesting ways to play with these ideas, like utilizing the time of day and different weather to create interesting colour palettes and moods. Even though everything is very clean and linear, it creates a uniquely cozy atmosphere, which makes the more dynamically designed characters stand out even more.
Another element, which plays into the game’s narrative somewhat, is how players can access what’s called the “Block Side,” which seemingly strips the bright, clean facade away from the Facility and shows how cold and mechanical things really look. Without even drawing attention to it, the Block Side adds such a dynamic layer to the game’s story and world and immediately calls into question the legitimacy of the ones in control.
D-Topia’s music is equally serene, utilizing both a techno-inspired ambiance that evokes the feeling of a futuristic utopia and quiet, understated instrumentation that gives the soundtrack a gentle human touch. It runs the gamut from poppy and quirky to melancholic and thoughtful—each song perfectly setting the mood and enhancing the story in the moment.
D-Topia isn’t a particularly complex game, but it is a nice one. It’s genuinely sweet, and its heart is certainly in the right place. For a bite-sized narrative experience, it does what it needs to and won’t put a dent in your wallet. If you’re looking for something thoughtful and engaging, then I would say give this a look!
