I was going to say that I generally avoid puzzle/adventure games, but I guess that’s not entirely accurate. I think I just had that dismal failure with Zork so many years ago (puzzle-solving/adventure text game, you youngsters — no graphics at all) and have kept my distance since then. Don’t get me wrong; I like puzzles. But I’m a little nervous about the type that has you wandering around, collecting objects you’ll need somewhere else, putting it all together and managing to not get lost.

I approached Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child with some trepidation but have been pleasantly surprised by the story and adventure that unfolded. I awaken as Brenna, in my fairy treehouse, but I’m disturbed by ongoing dreams of Faye and a child named Lyra. Odd magic keeps swirling things out of my reach and generally putting obstacles in my way as I try to understand what’s really going on. Being the intrepid adventurer that I am, I was pretty sure something was up from the first time I looked in a mirror and apparently didn’t recognize myself. That’s either a crazy dream or a wild party, and I don’t seem to be the wild party type.

Because I enjoyed the unfolding of the story so much, I really don’t want to spoil that part for you. Suffice it to say, all things will become clear in time as you progress through the game.

Movement through Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child was very easy. I can click on everything I can see in a room, so I’m not walking around peering at things. I do need to be thorough in my search, mind you, but if I can see it, I can generally reach it.

The graphics are done extremely well. Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child is a very pretty world, with lovely details in every scene. Even the carvings in the labyrinth area are nice. The bedrooms are gorgeous. Everything is recognizable and yet just different enough that it’s obvious you’re not in Kansas anymore.

Equally as enchanting were the music and sounds. I felt like they captured the mood of the game without ever getting on my nerves. It’s a good thing when the sights and sounds complement each other for a fuller sensory experience.

I love the variety in the puzzles. I didn’t find anything unsolvable, but there is a hint option if you need a nudge. Nothing was too fiendishly difficult so as to be frustrating, but they all kept up a reasonable level of challenge to keep my interest. With the puzzles, I did everything from collecting sparklies to remembering and playing back sequences of musical notes. You even get to make potions at the herbalist’s house.

The nexus area puzzles were an ongoing challenge since you collect different pieces that allow you to move through new areas. Basically the nexus machine lets you place two disks with three colored stones each onto its control panel. You get to pick the right disks and place them in the right orientation to match the color pattern to open the doorways.

There’s no time limit on this game, so you’re free to take your time and explore. There’s no penalty for clicking around either. I always felt I was free to move around — though I did sometimes get messages that I should finish what I’m doing in this area before leaving. Other than during particular puzzles, though, I could go to whichever area I wanted once I’d opened it.

A lot of the doors in Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child have puzzles to be solved to unlock them. I was very glad that once solved, the doors stayed unlocked. There’s an area where you have to match a pattern of flashing lights, and I would have hated to have to redo that every time I went through the door. They weren’t impossible, but you do need a reasonable ability to remember and match patterns. At least you can replay the initial pattern as many times as you need — without penalty.

I did receive a score when I finished the game, and I could presumably go back through and try to best my score if I really wanted. As much as I enjoyed my initial voyage through, I’m not sure I’d necessarily start over and play it again. A lot of the enjoyment came from learning the story and solving the puzzles for the first time. Even with some objects stashed in different locations, the story was the thing. I don’t know that I’d gain that much from trying to do a “speed run” so to speak. Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child was definitely worth that first trip through, though!

I like that I have multiple save spots with Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child and that the designers made it easy to play as long as you like and then jump right back in when you have more time. While I often share games with my daughter, I’m not sure I’d share this one with her. There’s nothing I wouldn’t want her to see, and she certainly enjoyed looking at the game, but I think the puzzles would have been too challenging for her, and she probably would have gotten frustrated (she’s not quite 9, and she has high-functioning autism). She could help me with some puzzles together but probably wouldn’t have been successful on her own.

I have definitely enjoyed my time playing Dream Chronicles: The Chosen Child. There are two other games in this series: Dream Chronicles and Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze. I think I’m going to have to go check them out. In the future, I’m going to be more willing to try puzzle/adventure games — especially if they’re as well done as this one.