Demo code provided, with many thanks to SporkTank.
Rita is an upcoming word puzzle game, developed and to be released by SporkTank, where we play as a little chick, Rita, who has just hatched and loves solving crosswords and other word puzzles. From the game description, it seems like Rita will be a multi-generational story, where we follow Rita from childhood to adulthood and beyond.
The Gameplay of Rita
In the demo, we get to meet Rita and her family and explore a small part of her world. While walking around, we collect letters, which we use to fill out newspaper crosswords.
Rita features some light platforming with obstacles that we overcome by completing the word puzzles. Since Rita is a chicken, she can’t fly, but she can jump a bit. By completing crosspuzzles, we can create platforms and power lifts at certain places, which we use to reach higher areas.
Rita’s world is not empty – besides the platforming, we get to meet some endearing characters, some of whom will be our friends and some- our rivals.
The puzzles in Rita are all word-based. The most common ones are the crossword puzzles we find in the newspaper, but they are far from the only ones. We also get to solve word searches, rebus, anagrams, and more. We need to use the letters Rita collects so that her story can progress further.
The World of Rita
Rita’s adventure begins in the picturesque town of Aspendale in 1933, filled with secrets, collectables, and some quirky characters. The character designs are pixel-like, but still cute. The game heavily reminded me of A Short Hike and Haven Park, which charmed me instantly upon starting the game. I love word-based puzzles, so based on the short demo, I will be eagerly awaiting the whole game.
Some Other Things
Some players have reported performance issues and stuttering when playing the demo of Rita. I personally didn’t have any problems. The demo is available for Windows, macOS, and SteamOS+Linux and can be played with a keyboard, keyboard and mouse, or a gamepad.
The whole game has no release date yet – it’s marked as coming soon on Steam.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t have any expectations when I started Rita, but based on what I saw in the demo, I will be eagerly awaiting the final release of the game. If you liked A Short Hike and Haven Park, and you like word-based puzzles, this one might be for you!
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