Without going into too much detail and getting sappy, I recently moved into a new home, which comes with the task of unpacking items that belonged to family members who had passed away. Opening these boxes hidden away in storage has been like opening a time capsule. It has been an interesting experience to see what our loved ones held on to. We have found everything from casino memorabilia to newspaper clippings from the 80s about recycling. Therefore, when I heard about a game that captures a similar vibe, I knew I had to check it out. So, without further ado, let’s talk about Undusted: Letters from the Past (ULftP).
The Plot of Undusted: Letters from the Past
ULftP follows the story of Adora, who, as far as I can tell, has returned home after her mother’s passing. After finding a teacup of her mother’s, she cleans it, bringing back waves of memories from her childhood. As players continue to clean objects within the home, they will unlock memories from Adora’s past. Will Adora figure out where her relationship with her mom went sour? What other secrets do these items hold? It is up to the players to find out.
Features Unique to Undusted: Letters from the Past
- A virtual ASMR experience.
- Each tool has a unique audio experience.
- It makes one feel like they are cleaning objects in real life.
- Experience an emotional storyline.
- Families are complex, but this title does have a heartfelt storyline.
- Relaxing gaming experience.
- This game has no time limits, so players can take their time and enjoy the experience.
- Charming graphics and music.
- The relaxing music and unique art style are immersive.
- And so much more!
Thoughts on Undusted: Letters from the Past
As I was scrolling on Steam for new demos to try, I happened upon Undusted: Letters from the Past. I try not to read the full description when playing games because I like to be unbiased. All I knew going in was that I would clean dirty items and enjoy “sensually designed” sounds. I did not know what “sensually designed” sounds meant; however, I took the plunge and am happy that I did.
The ULftP demo jumps straight into business. I was shown a teacup and given the tools to clean it. The controls are straightforward; players mainly use the mouse and the TAB button to gain X-ray vision, which lets them see dirt that might not be visible to the naked eye. We start with two tools: a toothbrush and a scrubby sponge. Overall, it’s pretty simple mechanics.
Now that I have played the demo, I understand that the dev refers to the ASMR element as “sensually designed” sounds. The scrubbing of the toothbrush was pleasant. I am not a huge ASMR enjoyer; I find a lot of those sounds to be grating. However, this was not my experience with this title. I enjoyed the music and graphics. The music was soothing, and the graphics were charming. Ultimately, I would try the full version of this game.
Odds & Ends
At the time of writing, a demo for Undusted: Letters from the Past is available on Steam. A full release date has yet to be mentioned. If you are in the mood for another great game with a sad storyline, I would also recommend Project Homecoming Haven. It also deals with grief and is a cleaning-type title. I wrote an article about it here. In the end, these are both tactfully done games, and I highly recommend them. Additionally, if you are experiencing grief, please know you are not alone. The Hospice Foundation of America has a wonderful page about finding support groups.
