Bramble The Mountain King is, for my cash, certainly one of 2023’s most beautiful 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 crew’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 possibly can 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 searching for her whereabouts. However the unusual lands are residence to all method of mysterious and terrifying creatures – a few of which is likely to be pleasant, however a lot 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 setting and watching out for traps to dealing with down quite a few ominous creatures impressed by Nordic mythology. The attractive, misty forests play residence to all method of risks, massive and small, and also you’ll must maintain your eyes skilled always.
The ‘boss fights’ are maybe a few of Bramble’s best moments – many should not easy showdowns however moderately prolonged sequences the place you need to elude their consideration and determine the best way to cross by or overcome the creature. After they do flip to extra straight-up fights, Olle can use his Spark a bit like an over-the-shoulder shooter to search 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 ambiance. Its mechanics are stable sufficient to not get in the way in which, if nothing too outstanding, however the artwork route, 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, and so they’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 robust contender for my favourite second of the 12 months 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 bask in its beautiful 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 accessible as a part of the PC Sport Cross library by way of the Xbox app, should you’re a subscriber to Microsoft’s service.
Alternatively, we’ve acquired extra of the most effective single-player video games which you could play in 2023, or you possibly can browse the most effective horror video games on PC to bask in much more creepy, atmospheric adventures.
