In a world with uncreative sequels and rehashed ideas, The Pedestrian stands out as a truly unique and memorable experience. At its core, the game is a 2D puzzle-platformer where your goal is to guide an unnamed stick figure to the door at the end of the stage. The twist though is that the entire game takes place on road signs, billboards, traffic lights, and more. The player must move around and link different signs together so the Pedestrian can walk through doors and ladders that would otherwise be a dead end. Since most puzzles are independent of one another, The Pedestrian makes for a great pick-up-and-play game that truly puts one’s brain to work.

One impressive feature is the use of haptic feedback. Each footstep made, object picked up, and trampoline bounced upon is reflected in the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, which provides a level of immersion unseen in most platformers. Adding to it is the phenomenal score. Each track is atmospheric and fits the tone of the game perfectly, but tunes such as the one that plays in the university are excellent pieces in their own right.

While The Pedestrian is a great puzzle platformer, it's not perfect. Probably the most noticeable absence in the game is a hint system. The puzzles can get extremely difficult at times, becoming borderline frustrating even. Additionally, another missed opportunity is in the game’s use of the touchpad. While pressing the touchpad works as the interact button, the cursor cannot be controlled by sliding your finger over it. This nitpick might not affect many players, but it’s still an odd exclusion. Minor frustrations aside, The Pedestrian is a fantastic puzzle-platformer that stands out from the crowd. For those looking for a unique pick-up-and-play experience, it's well worth the investment.