I Do Not Like Diana Or Hugh In ‘Pragmata’

InnovationGamingI Do Not Like Diana Or Hugh In ‘Pragmata’ByPaul Tassi,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. News and opinion about video games, television, movies and the internet.Follow AuthorApr 24, 2026, 09:49am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.PragmataCapcomWhile I am often accused of going against the grain for its own sake, I’m sorry, I just can’t hold my tongue on this one. Pragmata is one of the most widely praised games of the year, and I just do not like the main thing people cite about why it’s so compelling: Its father-daughter narrative between Hugh, a lost spaceman, and Diana, a child robot.As a game, I really do like Pragmata. It feels like a flashback to an earlier generation of games in its simplicity. There are linear levels, there are enemies to fight strategically, there are puzzles to solve, and there are little hidden upgrades you take back to the little upgrade stations for character and weapon boosts. It’s great, I really like this loop and have enjoyed almost all of the gameplay (the platforming? Ehh).But for me, this Hugh and Diana lone wolf and cub dynamic is just trying way, way too hard. This is not me being sick of father-child narratives that span games from The Last of Us to God of War, it’s that this is just not portrayed with the supposed depth it’s been praised for, nor do I find these characters especially engaging, given how hard they are pushing the found father/daughter thing.PragmataCapcomFor context, I am saying this as a parent. I have a young son and a daughter, and what’s being shown here with Diana is a little kid where literally everything they say is meant to be utterly adorable. As such, she feels more like a puppy than a child, wide-eyed and beaming in every single interaction. That’s just not at all how it goes, as much as you love your kids, as much as they have plenty of cute m...