Phonopolis

Phonopolis is the most beautiful and artfully-constructed game yet from Amanita Design, a studio that knows a thing or two about making such games. Phonopolis perhaps doesn't venture quite as far outside the point 'n' click adventure box as it could, but fans of the genre who don't mind the occasional obtuse puzzle and a short-ish runtime will likely find themselves singing the game's praises.

Amanita has added yet another success to its impressive track record with Phonopolis. It's no easy feat to present a dystopian future through an adventure that's this vibrant and occasionally humorous, but Phonopolis pulls it off beautifully, delivering the experience alongside visuals that feel like works of art.

Phonopolis has a derivative story and a brilliant art style, and you reach the credits because you want to see everything the developers have crafted. But the game barely comes close to matching Amanita's best releases.

Phonopolis really is like nothing I’ve seen before. If you think back to the days of Pixar and Toy Story, Jurassic Park, and early stop-motion films, the wonder and amazement the public had over those accomplishments should be seen here as well. The pure creativity and craft at work is the real draw. The gameplay isn’t anything too unique and isn’t all that complex most of the time, but it is still a good time. I came for the presentation and artistry, and stayed for what they brought to the table. Phonopolis is a perfect, shorter, and charming adventure I can easily recommend.

An unconventional, visually striking and imaginative adventure that takes you through a city full of propaganda, mechanisms and strange characters. It's not long, but it offers plenty of good puzzles.

If you enjoy adventure games, original artistic design, or grew up playing games like Machinarium, you definitely shouldn't miss Phonopolis.

Phonopolis is another little gem from Amanita Design: a short, beautiful, and very special adventure that wins you over more with its personality, humor, and world than with the complexity of its puzzles. It’s unique and captivating, and above all, it knows how to genuinely entertain you throughout the entire journey.

Just like Mario or Sonic, which, if reduced to their bare essentials, are simply games about "jumping on or over things," Amanita Design's game is essentially about touching what's on the screen. And around this simple idea, these point-and-click geniuses have built a work of playable engineering worthy of a high place in the Video Game Hall of Fame, if such a thing exists.

Phonopolis is Amanita Design at their most technically ambitious and one of the most visually singular games released in 2026. In an age where AI-generated imagery is making handcrafted art feel like a deliberate protest statement, this cardboard dystopia built frame by painted frame has real weight as an artistic object. The puzzle design rewards tinkerers over logicians, the runtime is short, and the narrator will divide fans of the studio’s earlier wordless work. None of that changes what Phonopolis is: a beautiful, human, thoroughly considered piece of work from a studio that has been making these consistently for decades. Play the free demo first if the price is a concern. You’ll know within twenty minutes whether this is worth $22 of your time. It probably is.

Amanita’s handmade charm shines through, even if Phonopolis’ uneven puzzle design holds it back.