Leila | Xbox Review
Being a human is hard. Every stage of life has its difficulties, and they can feel all-encompassing when you’re going through them. These moments also tend to stick with us as time passes. Ubik Studios captures this experience excellently with their game Leila. It resonated deeply with me, and I found myself resonating with the titular Leila’s struggles and mental state.
Our Past Shapes Us
You play as Leila, a woman who is grappling with being a mom, wife, and author. She receives a game console that allows her to traverse a lush forest and revisit her past memories. Of course, the painful and difficult moments are what the player (and Leila) have to navigate and face. They haunt Leila and cause her distress to experience again. As the player, I also found myself feeling uncomfortable and relating to her emotional states in the best way.
These segments are full of point-and-click gameplay. The puzzles were pretty difficult for me, and I have to shamefully confess to using a guide a couple of times after becoming horribly stuck. Most of these brain teasers were rewarding once solved, but some had me wanting to bang my head against the wall. They do all correspond with what’s happening narratively, though, and they help immerse you further in Leila’s headspace. My skill level with solving puzzles isn’t very strong, to be honest, so other players may find them easier. There is a hint system in the game, but it’s pretty vague and only gives you a tiny heads-up about what to do.
Our Ghosts Haunt Us
Leila isn’t afraid to go to dark, disturbing places. There’s one chapter in particular that depicts body horror in a fairly gruesome fashion. Luckily, you can skip this section if you’re squeamish. If you decide to avoid this segment, you’ll receive a text summary of what occurred. I highly recommend playing through it if you can handle it, though. This particular moment of Leila’s life really connected with me, and I found myself wanting to hug her as she struggled.
Aside from that chapter, the other gameplay segments cover topics such as depression and childhood trauma. I really appreciated that the developers weren’t afraid to dive into these topics, and they remained respectful while doing so. It feels real and relatable while playing through its three hours of gameplay.
Our Looks Don’t Define Us
Leila is a gorgeous looking game. It reminded me of a graphic novel while playing. Small details really pop, and the style helps provide a soothing balm to the serious events being depicted. The soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, and the voice acting is solid. My only gripe with the game, aside from the puzzles being difficult, was the fact that the controls can be somewhat fiddly on console. I found myself having to adjust my movements with the joystick frequently. I feel like this probably feels more natural on PC.
The Final Verdict
I was in awe of how Leila handled mental illness, trauma, and just being a human in this world. The graphics are stunning and the sound design is spot-on. The point-and-click gameplay can be somewhat fiddly on console, and the puzzles were challenging for me, but these won’t affect every player. If you’re looking for a puzzle game with a powerful narrative and aren’t afraid of the subject material, Leila will be right up your alley.
To hear me talk more about Leila, be sure to listen to the April 10, 2025 episode of The Gaming Outsider podcast around the 1:00:39 time stamp.
This review is based on an Xbox copy of Leila provided by Pirate PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG.
Leila
$12.99
Pros
- Handles Sensitive Topics Carefully
- Gorgeous Graphics
- Short and Sweet
Cons
- Puzzles Can Be Too Challenging for Some
- Controls Are a Tad Fiddly on Console
