Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley release day + my honest review 🌿
I was underwhelmed by this new cozy game at first, but after I completed it, I was reminded of why I fell in love with cozy games to begin with. Don’t get me wrong, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley IS a good game. It is based on the beloved children’s book the Moomins by the iconic Swedish-speaking Finnish author and illustrator, Tove Jansson.
This game is described as a story-rich musical adventure. You play as Snufkin who is searching for his best friend Moomintroll who has gone missing 😱 You wander through the gorgeous and whimsical valley, meet and help its many quirky inhabitants, complete quests using musical instruments and restore the valley by destroying the evil plans of the Park Keeper.
The gameplay is very child-friendly. There is zero challenge and the occasional puzzle and stealth elements are very easy. Luckily the flow of this low-stakes cozy game is well designed and changes in sceneries made me finish the game in two sittings (3.5 hours).
For someone who isn’t familiar with the source material, the story is predictable and characters not as deep or complex as its Steam page suggests. But they’re very charming and made me curious about the Moomin world!
Overall, the world of Moominvalley is imaginative, soft and immersive thanks to its intricate art style and lovely sound design. There is beauty in games that are meant to create a sense of safety, comfort, and belongingness, considering what is going on in the world right now. For its competent execution and relaxing, heartwarming experience, I give this game an 8/10.
Pros
- stunning art style and amazing music
- Moominvalley is beautifully designed and fun to explore
- messing with the police officers was hilarious
- playing it filled me with a sense of childlike wonder
Cons
- short for the price
- the mini games featuring musical instruments are very bland
- neither gameplay or story stands out in an ocean of cozy games
🪈 The game is available on Nintendo Switch & PC for $19.99 / €19.99
🪈 A review copy was provided to me by Hyper Games & Raw Fury AB
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