I underestimated Keeper, and having played many, many Double Fine games, I really shouldn't have. What I expected to be a funny little tale about a lighthouse coming to life and finding a friend in a scatty seabird became an entirely unexpected journey. OK, yes, it still is a funny little tale about a lighthouse and a seabird, but it's far more complicated than that.
The hardest part about talking about Keeper is that I want to be a keeper of its secrets. This magical, mysterious game isn't long – I logged around 8 hours by the time the credits rolled – but I'd hate for anyone to ruin its surprises. What I will spoil is that I've fallen in love with a lighthouse. Double Fine manages to imbue what's essentially a walking desk lamp with so much emotion and personality, I doubt I'll stop thinking about it for a long time. Through everything that this gangly guy goes through, you feel every early stumble and dramatic moment without ever missing a facial expression.
