Venice 2089 (v2023.07.20)

A near-empty Venice becomes a quietly striking playground in this reflective adventure about uncertainty, community, and growing up. Set in 2089, the city is increasingly shaped by erratic high tides, with flooded districts, removed landmarks, and frustrated residents turning a familiar tourist icon into a fragile place to call home. Players follow Nova, a restless teenager looking for an escape from everyday pressure, as a simple ride around the canals gradually becomes a more personal exploration of the city and its people. The mood is mellow and bittersweet rather than apocalyptic, balancing climate anxiety with the freedom of skating through beautiful, sunlit streets.

Venice 2089 centers on relaxed exploration across a stylized 2.5D version of the floating city. Nova travels by hoverboard, weaving through narrow calli, riding ramps, and pulling off tricks that feed into an adaptive soundtrack, so movement helps shape the atmosphere as much as it gets you from place to place. Rising water periodically changes available routes and makes navigation a small environmental puzzle, encouraging players to reconsider familiar paths rather than simply following markers. A drone extends Nova’s reach for retrieving distant items and handling light puzzles, while conversations with residents lead to small quests and reveal competing perspectives on Venice’s troubled future. Meaningful finds and mementos can be brought back to Nova’s houseboat, giving the adventure a tangible record of the people and moments encountered.

Its strongest feature is the way a real-world climate concern informs the map without turning the experience into a punishing survival game. The handcrafted Venetian setting feels more intimate than the sprawling open worlds common to adventure games, and the hoverboard creates a pleasant sense of flow reminiscent of low-pressure skating games. Character interactions and collectible memories give it a coming-of-age heart, while the shifting tide system keeps exploration from feeling entirely static. Venice 2089 suits players who enjoy narrative wanderers such as A Short Hike, Season, or Mutazione, especially newcomers who prefer atmosphere, accessible puzzles, and emotional discovery over demanding combat or high-stakes challenge.