Bramble The Mountain King is, for my cash, one among 2023’s most attractive and placing indie video games. This atmospheric motion platformer impressed by darkish Nordic fables comes from Sweden-based Dimfrost Studio, and it’s fairly the achievement for simply the group’s second outing. Scored by a improbable soundtrack that ranges from the haunting to the bombastic, Bramble The Mountain King has caught vividly in my reminiscence – and now due to a Steam sale you’ll be able to seize it at an enormous low cost, so transfer quick.
Following the story of a younger boy named Olle who’s thrown into the whims of journey when his sister is taken captive by a troll, you set out into the eponymous land of Bramble seeking her whereabouts. However the unusual lands are house to all method of mysterious and terrifying creatures – a few of which may be pleasant, however lots of whom are decidedly not.
Olle makes use of his Spark of Braveness to beat the assorted trials he encounters, which vary from navigating the surroundings and watching out for traps to going through down quite a few ominous creatures impressed by Nordic mythology. The attractive, misty forests play house to all method of risks, massive and small, and also you’ll must preserve your eyes skilled always.
The ‘boss fights’ are maybe a few of Bramble’s best moments – many should not easy showdowns however somewhat prolonged sequences the place you could elude their consideration and determine methods to go by or overcome the creature. Once they do flip to extra straight-up fights, Olle can use his Spark a bit like an over-the-shoulder shooter to seek out weak spots in his opponents’ armor and are available out triumphant.
I used to be actually taken by Bramble’s sense of place and environment. Its mechanics are strong sufficient to not get in the best way, if nothing too exceptional, however the artwork path, sound design, and animation come collectively to make one thing really particular. From the haunting warped, actuality of the Pesta to the screaming fairytale horror of the Kärrhäxan, every encounter in Bramble feels distinctive from the others, they usually’re all burned into my mind.
Because the trailer teases, you do even get to listen to Grieg’s iconic Within the Corridor of the Mountain King – and, regardless of the potential for cliché, the purpose when it occurs is a powerful contender for my favourite second of the yr in any sport to this point.
Bramble The Mountain King is 40% off on Steam till August 18, 2023 – count on to pay $17.99 / £14.99 down from $29.99 / £24.99. If you wish to take pleasure in its attractive artwork and sound design much more, the Digital Deluxe Version together with the soundtrack and a digital artbook is 46% off – that’s $21.03 / £17.81, down from $38.97 / £32.99.
You should buy Bramble the Mountain King on Steam. It’s additionally obtainable as a part of the PC Recreation Go library through the Xbox app, in the event you’re a subscriber to Microsoft’s service.
Alternatively, we’ve bought extra of one of the best single-player video games which you could play in 2023, or you’ll be able to browse one of the best horror video games on PC to take pleasure in much more creepy, atmospheric adventures.