Röki is a puzzle game that delves into loss, grief, and the importance of family. Tove’s brother, Lars, has been kidnapped by the forest spirits, and it’s up to you to find him in the magical realm before it’s too late.

Tove must travel into ancient wilderness to rescue her brother, Lars, who has been kidnapped by Rörka, the Guardian of Winter. This modern point-and-click adventure puzzle game takes Tove on a journey through a magical realm where she must help creatures and free the other Guardians from Rörka’s curse along the way. Röki was released in 2020 from Polygon Treehouse, “an art-led indie studio making narrative games that pack an emotional punch.”

GRAPHICS 8/10

An enriching visual experience, Röki offers a unique art style in which anyone can get lost. The scenery throughout every level is layered, making the world large and rich with perspective. Players will enjoy the color schemes while exploring the world and discovering its secrets. Although Röki primarily uses fixed camera angles, the creators at Polygon Treehouse have expertly utilized 3D animation to enhance gameplay, providing the player with unique viewpoints that add extra challenges to each puzzle.

One of my favorite scenes was entering the domain of Jötunúlfur, the Wolf of Spring. Each part of the level made Tove feel smaller and smaller, reflecting how she is a tiny human compared to the house of a God. It provided a feeling of caution and curiosity while you solved each puzzle to progress forward.

Röki is definitely one of the most unique games I’ve ever played when it comes to graphics and composition. Not only were they visually appealing, they also strengthened the storytelling aspect, adding a sense of danger, curiosity, playfulness, dread, or joy.

SOUND QUALITY 9/10

If I received a dollar for every time the music in Röki made me cry the game would have literally paid for itself. It is beautifully moving and hits every emotional nerve. Whether the goal was to make the player feel sad or determined, the music alone is worth giving this game a shot.

Although the game is primarily text-based, the characters do have sound bites and lines that tend to repeat throughout the game. Sometimes the sounds were helpful to guide the player through the puzzles. Tove often goes “Hmmm” when hinting that an item is important but doesn’t fit the current objective. However, there were times when these sound bites were distracting, especially when reading important story text. There were times when Tove cries and says “Lars” whenever she is thinking about her brother. Oftentimes when I was reading different dialogue and Tove would make crying sounds, I was unsure whether or not I was also meant to be sad in that moment as a player. The good news is this is easily remedied by accessing the Audio Settings and switching the character voices off. If you’re the type of person (like me) who can be easily distracted by these types of interjections from characters, I would recommend changing the settings so you can still enjoy the music.

GAMEPLAY 8/10

I would categorize Röki as a cozy game. Between the graphics, music, and gameplay, this is the type of game you can sit down with for a few hours and enjoy gathering items and solving puzzles. The player has a journal to keep track of side quests and certain items needed to complete objectives. This is beneficial for players who may have long breaks between game sessions. I may make this game sound too easy, but for those who love a good puzzle, rest assured that Röki will not disappoint. Sometimes the journal clues are vague enough that you think you’ve found the right item but later discover it isn’t quite what you need. This can be a pain before the player unlocks fast travel because it involves a lot of back-and-forth that can make the game feel stale. However, the feeling of accomplishment is all worth it once a puzzle is solved and you get to progress the story.

CHARACTERS 10/10

It would not be an exaggeration for me to say I think about at least one of these characters once a week. They each left a huge impression on me, especially Tove, because I relate to her struggle as the eldest child trying to keep the family together after tragedy.

What I found most poignant about each of the characters is how they interpret and process loss. Tove and her father Henrik are both grieving the loss of Eva, Tove’s mother. Tove, about fifteen years old, takes on the role of pseudo-mother. She primarily takes care of Lars, but she also cooks, cleans, and ensures they don’t freeze to death in their mountain cabin. It’s clear from the beginning of the game that Henrik is an alcoholic and is numbing his grief to the point that he isn’t aware of his children. As for Lars, he was just a baby when their mother died. His grief comes from observation, but he actively works to cheer up his sister and father the best that he can.

Grief and loss are layered throughout the story. One of my favorite parts of the game was learning about Rörka through cutscenes as Tove progresses closer to rescuing Lars. Rörka’s backstory is so deeply laced with tragedy that she nearly becomes a sympathetic villain.

Although the game is heavily themed around grief, each of the characters find redemption and forgiveness.

STORY 10/10

There’s a reason Röki was nominated for “Best Debut Game” at The Game Awards in 2020 and again at the BAFTA Awards in 2021.

As I mentioned before, I think about this game a lot. It’s one of those games I want to return to at least once a year because the story lives in my heart. I remember when the credits started rolling at the end I sat on my couch openly weeping because the build-up to the ending held every one of my emotions hostage.

This game does have a happy ending, and it’s one of the most beautiful happy endings I’ve experienced in a game. It’s something special when a story that is heavy with tragedy is not met with more tragedy but rather with absolution for each character. The story of Röki is thick with magical folklore, which makes the adventure all the more fantastical. From beginning to end, the story will compel the player to unlock the mysteries of the four Guardians, Tove and her family, and how the magical realm collides with our own.

OVERALL 9/10

I would recommend this game to anyone who enjoys solving puzzles and is looking for a short, story-driven game. Röki is not only a feast for the eyes but also the ears. The graphic artwork will intrigue you and the soundtrack will keep you engaged throughout the game while you solve various puzzles. Polygon Treehouse’s approach to modernizing a point-and-click adventure will satisfy players looking for a cozy weekend game or an engaging experience they can easily return to at any time. Röki is a great game for those who want to enjoy a good story with memorable characters but don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to a 40-hour game. It’s a beautiful story that illustrates loss and grief but ultimately leaves the player feeling whole knowing that each character has found forgiveness—not only for themselves, but for their family too.

Röki was released July 23, 2020 and is available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. The Nintendo Switch version of Röki was used for this review. The reviewer purchased the game at full retail price.