The Magnificent Trufflepigs Review

The Magnificent Trufflepigs created a fun experience for players by putting the focus on storytelling and letting players take their time.

Developed by Thunkd and published by AMC Games, The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a first-person story about two friends reconnecting at an old farm in pursuit of a lost treasure. Players take on the role of Adam as he returns to his childhood village of Stanning to help his friend Beth, who got word the old farm is set to be demolished and wants to find a missing earring.

The backdrop of The Magnificent Trufflepigs is a beautiful rolling English countryside. The main mechanic of the game sees players using a metal detector to scour the various fields of the farm in pursuit of the earring. What’s interesting about the game’s design is there’s not really a moment where players actually see what Adam and Beth look like. They’re voiced by Arthur Darvill and Luci Fish, and the game very cleverly makes sure players don’t have to see any character designs to connect with them. The first-person perspective doesn’t require players to know what Adam looks like, but even when the characters meet up, the game opts for wide scenic shots around the car they’re sitting in.

Digging in the field can get a bit repetitive, as it is the same process over and over again. Players pull out the metal detector, slowly walk around until it beeps in a frenzy, use the shovel to dig up the item, finish with a trowel to fish it out of the dirt, and then send a picture to Beth. However, it is quite relaxing to get to take in the hills of Stanning and its bright atmosphere. Players don’t get to walk very fast when using the metal detector, which makes sense but is also a bit frustrating. The slow walking is only frustrating because it seems like there may be more to discover in each field than is possible in the daylight of that day. Every day the player switches to a new field, so it leaves players with a sense of wondering what was missed and if it was anything important.

This critique isn’t to say the metal detector mechanic is annoying—in truth, it lives up to the game’s promise of being relaxing. Players just walk up and down the fields until they find something and dig it up. Where The Magnificent Trufflepigs really shines, though, is its narrative and storytelling. The combination of two actors who embody their roles mixed with the mystery of what’s actually happening in Beth’s life keeps players hooked. Beth and Adam talk a lot during the game, which helps drive the story along and lets players understand the dynamic between the two of them and how things have changed. However, all their talking can get in the way of metal detecting, meaning players may get frustrated with how many metal items are left unfound.