Leximan review

There’s a bit too much conformity in contemporary gaming. Sure, I thoroughly enjoy most soulslikes, metroidvanias, and deckbuilders. But I also crave experiences that shun the familiar, delivering experiences where you never quite know what to expect next.

Essentially, that’s Leximan’s hook. Developer Knights of Borria (formed by a trio of Falmouth University grads) latest title is enchantingly capricious, referencing most of the medium’s dominant genres in rapid-fire succession. With elements that range from a deliberately clunky driving sequence to tense bullet hell evasion, adventure party building, fetch quests, and even a Frogger-style video game, Leximan can feel like free jazz. At least some of that perception is rooted in the game’s soundtrack, which can shift styles several times a minute.

Use Your Words

Leximan’s one central mechanic is word puzzles. Periodically, you’ll be tasked with creating a word from floating clusters of letters. In one early riddle, you’ll need to grab the letters “GRE” and “NADE”, to summon an explosive when brewing a potion. And while Leximan lacks Scribblenauts’ vast lexicon, there are multiple solutions to many of these brainteasers, often with varying outcomes. Best of all, you won’t have to worry about failure bringing on a game squandering “Game Over” screen. Like the cheeky responses in role-playing games, Knights of Borria doesn’t punish for role-playing as a jerk.

Best of all, Leximan doesn’t feel like a loosely related collection of WarioWare-style games. While there’s not a wealth of exposition, the tale of a young spellcaster showing up on a rainy night outside the door of the prestigious Academy Elementinia does nurture some engaging sentiments. Early on, the game channels the feeling of being a clumsy but capable outsider, elevated by a poignant walk in front of a scornful student body. And while the outcast’s redemptive arc is foreseeable, Leximan evades many of the expected plot points. Naturally, saying that the game is a reminder of the power of words isn’t a spoiler.

The Difficulties of a Leximancer

Largely, the script is just as whimsical as its action. One moment, Leximan can be playful before summoning some earnest sentiment in the next scene. Similarly, the game’s text feels alive, dramatically quivering for emphasis and habitually changing sizes.  And while reading isn’t usually an issue, I did experience some difficulty reading the pixelated font used for the word building mini game. For some, navigating through projectile-saturated areas using only mouse and keyboard control will be a bit frustrating. I’d love to see Knights of Borria implement controller support.

But largely, these minor missteps are forgivable (and forgettable) given the game’s intriguingly erratic approach. If you’re looking for a seven-hour experience that eschews routine and embraces chaos, Leximan deserves a shot. Or rather a “SH” and “OT”.

Leximan was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.