Leila is a puzzle game developed by Ubik Studios, an independent studio based in Istanbul. The studio focuses on developing games that revolve around storytelling, and one of their goals is to create original stories. You can find out more and read their Manifesto on their website. Leila will be available on Steam and GOG from 7 April 2025 and on PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox from 17 April.
A journey through memories
Leila is a narrative adventure in which we will reconstruct the life of the protagonist by solving puzzles and mini-games. In Leila’s shoes, we will embark on a kind of journey through memories, retracing some of the most important moments in her life, one memory at a time.
The peculiarity of the game is that there is not just one way to go through the memories. In fact, from time to time we can decide whether or not to face the memory of a particular situation. Either way, we will be able to reconstruct her past.
From a narrative point of view, Leila is a very engaging game that presents the story in a non-linear way. Only by going through all the memories will we get a better idea of the protagonist’s past. Leila tells us the ordinary and at the same time unique life of a woman, focusing mainly on the emotional component, from dealing with teenage love to the complications of adulthood.
Leila combines storytelling with puzzle elements and mini-games. The puzzles are different from each other and all quite engaging. We liked the decision not to give too many explanations and to rely on the player’s creativity to solve them. There’s no risk of getting stuck, though, as you can always refer back to the clues.
One of the most entertaining sections was the choice of the book’s plot, but in general all the puzzles were challenging. Don’t expect to pick up items here and there like in a point-and-click game, but just the presence of these puzzles and mini-games, with even riddle components. Something we really appreciated, as it further stimulates you to follow the plot.
Graphically, Leila is a joy for the eyes, there are many animated elements and even different styles appear at different times in the game.
The soundtrack, made up of original songs, adds to the atmosphere of this deep journey through memories. An immersive adventure perfect for a few hours (It took us two hours).
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