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Games of the Week: Arctic Eggs & Threshold

In 2024, I played many games on PC that most wouldn’t consider “normal”. They don’t fit into one genre. Instead, they take the surreal and put the player into interesting situations. It was refreshing to see smaller developers try to offer unique gaming experiences. Two notable releases in this batch were Arctic Eggs and Threshold. Considering how much I enjoy these games, I wanted to check these two out.

The ticket printing machine in Threshold

Let’s Talk about Threshold

The concept behind Threshold is straightforward. You’re starting your first day on the job managing a train outpost. You aim to ensure the train maintains its pace through your little section. If the train slows, you need to blow your whistle to speed it up.

That’s all there is to this game. Of course, there’s a bit more to it. But that’s how the game starts you off. There are a few unique aspects to your job. Oxygen is at a premium because you’re working in a cave-like area. When the cargo maintains its pace, a machine prints out a ticket that grants you an oxygen case. These glass containers give you air to breathe. So, you need to collect these tickets and redeem them.

Yes, you can only collect tickets and keep track of the train, but there is more to this area than that. As you begin to explore the area and have conversations with a coworker, you start to learn more. That’s when things get interesting and you start to see where the story takes you.

Frying some Eggs and Sausages in Arctic Eggs

Let’s Talk about Arctic Eggs

With Arctic Eggs, the whole game revolves around your character cooking for people. You’re stationed at a facility in the cold tundra. It’s not quite clear at first if this is a new colony or some sort of prison. It’s odd since there are Guards and civilians. At the same time, it appears to be a functional society with food vendors and even a nightclub.

You are the Poultry Prepper. As punishment for trying to leave, you have to cook for enough people. Do that, and you’ll get to meet with “The Saint of Six Stomachs”, who may grant your leave. So, you proceed to walk around the facility, engage in conversation, and cook for people when asked to. Every meal consists of frying an egg and some other item. Early on, you might need to fry some canned fish. Later on, you’re asked to fry eggs while also not spilling a bottle of beer too much.

There is a lot to unpack here. You talk to a lot of people and they all have odd things to say. The interactions here are one-sided but you start to get little bits of information. But, the focus here is making sure to fry those eggs and please everyone’s hunger.

Two people having a conversation in Arctic Eggs

Two very different types of repetitive work

I had very mixed feelings about these two games. Yes, they both incorporate the mundane. In Threshold, I enjoyed repeating the same tasks. Meanwhile, in Arctic Eggs, I hated the cooking requests.

Part of why I disliked Arctic Eggs is because the cooking wasn’t fun. Threshold doesn’t ask you to do anything special. You move around a small environment doing menial tasks. But with Arctic Eggs, the act of frying eggs and the other requests requires actual motions. I got about halfway through the game, feeding about 15 people, but I never enjoyed the act of cooking.

My gripe with the cooking is the reliance on luck. You’re never cooking the same meal and you get some odd requests. The one that broke me was where I had to fry an egg, but also had to keep the ice from two glasses from melting. At the same time, you have a cigarette which must still be lit by the time the egg finishes.

Things on the pan only cook when you move the pan. But, that’s not the case with the cigarette. The moment it lands on the pan, it begins to burn out, so you can’t waste any time. Because of the sensitivity, completing this request was too much for me and I gave up. There were other annoying requests, so the gimmick had already overstayed its welcome.

Watching the cargo train pass you by in Threshold

Threshold’s story requires a second playthrough

Since I gave up on Arctic Eggs, I have no idea how the story finishes. As for Threshold, I did see the game’s credits. But, I’m certain I missed out on a few story beats.

Threshold starts by asking you to pick a country for the game to take place in. I chose Canada, and the tiny references to Ottawa were nice. When you pick your country, the game implies that this impacts difficulty. I didn’t find the game hard, so I’m curious how much harder it gets if you choose a “harder” country.

I wish the cooking in Arctic Eggs was more enjoyable. When I stopped playing, I was curious about what would happen when I reached “The Saint”. Are they some sort of half-human half-cow-like being? Heck, it’s possible, it’s not even a real person but a trick only to get you to cook. One day I’ll go online and watch a video playthrough to get the answer.

I’d like to play more from Critical Reflex

Critical Reflex published both games. They were also responsible for Mouthwashing and Buckshot Roulette. Looking at their slate of upcoming games, they are releasing more games like the four I played. Yes, Arctic Eggs wasn’t as enjoyable as the other three, but it’s still a strong output from the publisher. Others might be better at the controls than I was and they will enjoy it more. With Threshold, it’s an easy recommendation and the game is only about an hour long.