1 player
Available on PC, Stadia, Switch, Xbox One and PS4
This month, in the way of family games, I could easily have recommended Super Mario 3D World, and above all its add-on Bowser’s Fury, released on Switch not long ago. But I’ll take the opportunity to turn the spotlight on a more modestly scaled production that deserves all your attention. El Hijo, for all children, small and (very) big.
You play a little boy placed in a monastery by his mother, following the death of his father and the burning of their farm. The settings are superb and could come from an animated film. The atmosphere smells nicely of the western, but of the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. It is typically a game that lets you “do what the grown-ups do”. While adults have their stealth games (Assassin’s Creed, Hitman, Metal Gear Solid, etc.), El Hijo takes up their main mechanics, but adapted for a younger audience.
So, in his quest for revenge and freedom, the little boy has to get through the levels discreetly, without being spotted by the adults. To do so, he can be mischievous by hiding or by using a few trinkets to divert the monks’ attention. They will take him back to the entrance if they see him. There are regularly several paths to choose from, and the levels call in turn on dexterity and thought.
With one press you can display the lines of sight to avoid.
Beyond the very special care given to the art direction, I liked the idea of playing a child making their way through the strange world of adults. It is a fine metaphor for childhood, during which grown-ups represent both safety and danger. Not in the sense of real endangerment, but rather the risk posed by the framework, the one that interrupts the adventure and cuts short the transgression.
El Hijo requires effort in patience and perseverance, two skills that are always good to train in children. It also has the advantage of offering plenty of save points along the way. There will therefore be no problem ending a session when it is time to swap the poncho for pyjamas.
To discover the game on video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xoq-8X_bC50
A few themed questions to use when talking with your child :
- Is having to wait for the right moment to come out of hiding frustrating ? Do you feel like charging ahead ?
- How does it feel to escape an adult who is chasing you (in the game) ?
- What are the boy’s motivations ? How do we understand what he feels ?
