Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between – Great puzzle game in virtual reality

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• DEVELOPER: The Voxel Agents
• PUBLISHER: The Voxel Agents
• PLATFORMS: Meta Quest / Steam VR / PSVR
• GENRE: Puzzle
• RELEASE DATE: August 7, 2025
• STARTING PRICE: 19,50€
• REVIEWED VERSION: Steam VR (PICO 4)

Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between is a virtual reality puzzle adventure that builds on the charm and emotional depth of the beloved 2018 original. This expanded VR edition introduces new puzzles and improves the interactivity, making the journey into the dreamlike worlds of Arina and Frendt more personal than ever before. It runs smoothly on platforms like the PICO 4, with easy-to-use controls and no issues with motion sickness.

Unique time-manipulation mechanic

The core of the game remains its unique time-manipulation mechanic. You don’t directly control Arina and Frendt, instead, you guide them through their memories by moving time forward and backward. On the PICO 4, this is often done with simple hand gestures, like pinching right to accelerate time and left to reverse it.

As you “scrub” through time, the two friends walk along predetermined paths on the memory islands. Your challenge is to manipulate the environment to help them progress. This is inspired by the natural concept of reviewing video memories, making it a perfect fit for the game’s nostalgic theme. In VR, this concept comes to life in a new way.

“The core of the game remains its unique time-manipulation mechanic.”

The diorama-like islands become tangible spaces you can physically lean into, rotate, and interact with. Rather than directly controlling a character’s movement, you act as a silent guide, influencing the surroundings to help Arina and Frendt navigate their shared memories. What’s most interesting about the game is that each unique level presents its own challenges, ensuring you’re always tested. This means progression isn’t just a matter of building on the last puzzle; you’ll face a fresh set of problems every time.

Gameplay mechanics and puzzles

The gameplay relies heavily on a system of cause and effect. You’ll observe a sequence of events, identify a key interaction, rewind time to before it happened, make a change, and then fast-forward to see the new outcome. This could involve diverting a falling drop of water to an exposed wire or making Arina jump on a saw at the right time to cut a piece of wood.

Arina often carries a lantern that can collect “light orbs” from glowing flowers. These orbs are crucial for activating mechanisms like bridges or platforms. A key part of the puzzle is recognizing that some flowers will consume an orb if Arina passes them, requiring you to rewind time and find an alternative path.

“The puzzles start simple, teaching you the basic mechanics, but gradually increase in complexity.”

Frendt on the other hand interacts with different objects to alter the flow of time for specific elements. He might ring bells to change the temporal position of items or activate devices like a radio or a garden hose to clear blocked paths or bring necessary items within Arina’s reach.

The puzzles start simple, teaching you the basic mechanics, but gradually increase in complexity. You’ll need to think and keep an eye for details to see how different time manipulations intersect and influence one another. You’ll also find plenty of other mini-games along the way. The most memorable was a board game that you get to build yourself and a video game set in a game called Super Silly Crow.

Narrative and emotional connection

The narrative is told entirely without dialogue, relying on visual cues, character animations, and sound effects. It’s a heartfelt exploration of childhood friendship, nostalgia, and the pain of growing up and moving apart. Each island represents a significant memory, crafted from oversized everyday objects that evoke a powerful sense of wonder and familiarity. The VR perspective improves this by making you feel like an intimate, silent observer of their shared moments.

“It’s a game that makes you feel like a child, always discovering something new.”

Beyond time manipulation, you can physically interact with many nostalgic mementos. You can assemble toy parts, lift a paintbrush, or craft a friendship bracelet. A significant new gameplay element is Arina’s diary. Also, throughout each level, you can seek out hidden memory objects. Once found, you can grab these items and place them onto a relevant diary page, which then animates and fills with sound.

Many VR games don’t capture the full potential of the technology, so I went into Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between expecting a boring experience. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The game pulled me in with a sense of wonder, offering different puzzles like building a treehouse, powering elevator with a giant-bike, using a flashlight and digging through sand. It’s a game that makes you feel like a child, always discovering something new.

Excellent choice for anyone new to VR

In the end, Hidden Memories of The Gardens Between is an excellent choice for anyone new to VR who is looking for a unique game. While the puzzles are straightforward and the game isn’t very long, it runs smoothly on PC and offers a rewarding experience. The price, however, seems a bit steep for the content, so it might be worth waiting for a discount.

Review copy provided by the publisher