There are times when the horror seems a bit over the top in terms of a child simply glossing over it, such as when she discovers a suicide victim. You stumble across tiny dogs in party hats, B-Boy styling ducks, adults who hide behind masks of happiness (which felt very We Happy Few), and sign after sign that something is deeply, deeply wrong in the world of Little Misfortune. Starting off from her home, which has that air of “functional but broken,” Misfortune goes on a truly wild and far-reaching walk that brings her to encounter seemingly every one of the seven deadly sins in some capacity. The result is wholly engaging, even if it’s complexly, bitterly sad at many different avenues. Natalia, to her credit, does a fantastic job of adding the right amount of innocence and hardened knowledge to this sweet but somewhat disturbed little girl, and I can’t imagine this game without the presence therein. In effect, Little Misfortune is little more than a walking simulator, so it’s up to designer Natalia Martinsson (who I believe is also the voice of Misfortune) to make the journey interesting and entertaining. For example, you encounter a dead bird very early on, which Misfortune proclaims “a sleepy bird.” Adding glitter covers the cadaver with a child’s drawing of a happy bird, and you can draw your own psychological conclusions from that one. Throwing the glitter replaces them with something cuter and happier, effectively masking the horror of the world with a child’s own perception. Additionally, Little Misfortune has a neverending supply of glitter that she can toss onto certain objects. As you go, you may also be presented with choices, such as if you want to take or leave something, saying yes or no to different options, or simply choosing to cross the street or not. Each area involves you walking from one end of the screen to another (or running if you wish) and interacting with certain objects or things. Little Misfortune plays in a somewhat static, side-scrolling story. Between the random appearances of a fox named Benjamin, the posters of missing children and the sneaking suspicion that something is off, Misfortune can certainly carve her own path: where it will lead is anybody’s guess. Still, there’s always a chance something could change.

The Voice, however, speaks directly to the player and lets you in on a little secret: Misfortune is going to die today, and there’s nothing she nor you can do about it. Voice’s directions to where the game will be played. Thinking that Eternal Happiness would be a good gift for mommy, Misfortune chooses one of her dolls (either a stuffed unicorn or a painted rock) and heads out the door to follow Mr. Voice) offers Misfortune a fantastic journey: a special game to play in order to win Eternal Happiness. One day, a disembodied voice (whom she calls Mr. Her daddy is a bit violent and forgetful, her mommy is clearly some kind of alcoholic, but she isn’t letting any of that get to her and her beautiful world of imagination. Misfortune Ramirez Hernandez is an eight-year-old girl who is growing up in a very sad state of affairs. Thanks to Killmonday Games, Nintendo Switch owners can now embrace the cold, grim but surprisingly glittery world of Little Misfortune. But when the humor rides the razor’s edge of aghast and delight, it can keep you entertained on a miraculous level that draws gasps and grins equally. Just watch any starting standup comedian who thinks they can successfully emulate the stylings of Anthony Jeselnik and then bomb horribly with their “fetuses did 9/11” material. Though there are people who like the idea of having something that plays on shocking or depraved ideology in order to get a laugh, there are times where the jokes don’t hit and it just becomes uncomfortable or downright alienating. Dark humor is not always a well-executed concept.

Little misfortune age rating