Trek to Yomi

Trek to Yomi is a black-and-white action adventure inspired by classic Japanese samurai films, which studio Flying Wild Hog developed together with Leonard Menchiari as the author of the original concept and visual direction. The player takes on the role of the samurai Hiroki, who after a tragic attack on his home town sets out on a long journey of vengeance that gradually leads him into the supernatural realms of Japanese mythology, among spirits and demons. Combat is built on simple but precise combo attacks and parrying, while the camera holds to fixed, cinematically composed shots that render three-dimensional space almost like a two-dimensional platformer with carefully chosen viewing angles.

On PlayStation 5, the game benefits from sharp black-and-white visuals reminiscent of classic Akira Kurosawa films, complemented by film grain, static shot composition, and dynamic lighting that shifts the mood of individual scenes. The Japanese-language sound design, together with a traditional musical arrangement, heightens the authentic atmosphere of historical Japan, while the game's shorter overall length keeps it in a tight, well-paced format free of unnecessary padding and repetition.

Trek to Yomi was praised above all for its striking visual style, shot composition, and atmosphere, though critics saw the combat system as somewhat less refined and more repetitive than its visual side. The game gradually shifts between the real world and a spiritual plane, where the rules of movement and the appearance of the entire environment change, adding another dimension beyond plain linear combat. The journey is further accompanied by short environmental puzzles and exploration of side paths with chests and upgrades, which vary the gradual trek. As a smaller digital title, it showed that even with a limited budget it's possible to create a game on PlayStation 5 with a distinctly personal aesthetic and strong craftsmanship in both visuals and sound.

Why play it: For players drawn to the black-and-white aesthetic of samurai films and careful shot composition rather than combat-system depth — a shorter, aesthetically exceptional experience at a reasonable price.