The Indie Informer

I know many will see Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley‘s unfamiliar name and story-like visuals and dismiss the game out of hand – I know it. But I’m telling you now: Don’t. This is the game we all need in our life right now.

In a world so full recently of heavy news, Snufkin’s whimsy lightens the soul. Its beauty enchants the heart. And its every character is more endearing than the last. It doesn’t hurt that its narrative also deeply tempted me to title this review F*@% The Police.

Of course, the game kicks off with a gut punch. It shouldn’t be one. I’ve never met these characters before. I have no clue as to their relationship and past adventures. But none of that matters in the wake of the evocative opening scene filled with tears, parting, and beauty.

It’s unfair the way the snow glistens as I walk the the idyllic countryside, making me all the more aware that spring, and a promised reunion, is far away. But hope soon blooms with the flowers in Snufkin’s enchanting landscape. I know it’s only the beginning of 2024, but, honestly, it’s difficult imagining a more dazzling game coming out this year.

The hand-drawn landscape moves with an energy of its own, even when I am completely still. Leaves and blossoms dance in the wind, and Snufkin’s frame constantly shifts in an homage to animated TV programs of a bygone era. There are several spots throughout the world that allowed me to simply sit and watch a painted, scenic view and I relished finding them. I found it impossible to pass up the opportunity to sit meditatively, exploring the detail and tranquility of the still scene.

As I find myself turning back to Moominvalley expecting to discover old friends, it becomes clear something is terribly wrong. They couldn’t just let me have a happy ending. It doesn’t take long to discover a troop of order-loving authorities in my path. In my absence, they have set out to cage the vivid wildness with iron fences, manicured hedges, and unsightly manifestations of their new rules.

It’s time to do crimes.

Liberating the valley mostly requires me to sneak around the police’s field of vision, ripping out signs and knocking down statues. These sections have very generous checkpoints, in the event you do get caught. So, the potential for tedium is mitigated and the guard’s ridiculous and self-important dialogue is always good for a chuckle. However, I’m happy these segments don’t overstay their welcome as simply wandering the wilderness, helping out unexpected friends in need, is really the best Snufkin has to offer.

The quests, which range from helping reunite a mother bird with her lost chicks to undertaking a lone jailbreak after luring away the authorities, a brief but compelling. I always felt the need to promptly strike out to help whatever denizen of the wilderness I happened to come across. In large part, this is because everything I run into immediately triggers my “If anything happens to this creature I will kill everyone” response. Grumpy, gleeful, or gloomy, each character makes me wish I could hug them.

Most of my missions can be completed with a few notes from my musical instruments. The bulk of the gameplay centers around earning different ones and leveling them up to get past obstacles. How do you level up an instrument? With inspiration. Much life real life, I can gain this by running through bushes with wild abandon, interacting with nature in charming ways, getting away with property damage, and helping out the people around me. The puzzles are never quite the same and so, avoid becoming monotonous. However, nothing will challenge the player’s skills unduly, though this works in concert with its overall meditative and lighthearted nature.

Where many games structure themselves in terms of runs, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is more of a stroll. And it’s not a long one, considering I completed everything there was to do — something I normally don’t strive to accomplish — in less than five hours. And for almost five hours, I found myself wandering an enchanted world brimming with dazzling visuals, animated mischief, irresistible personalities, and the kind of serenity you deserve to experience.