The 2016 Classic: A Cinematic Platformer in Scandinavian Folklore

A young protagonist, Olle, embarks on a cinematic platformer adventure in a mysterious world filled with mythical creatures and gruesome adversaries.. This small boy has to move through a deadly world and bear witness to things no being should ever see.

Developed by a Scandinavian studio, Olle is a brief journey tainted by darkness, where players come across cute little gnomes, freaky big trolls, bog fairies, nasty witches, and other fictional beings with a predilection for bloodshed.

A Darker Tone: Lessons in Maturity

Many of the game's cinematic platforming bits have Olle scurrying away from titanic beasts trying to swallow him in one gulp. The game thoughtfully shrinks the child down to a few inches, making these threats even scarier.

Olle desperately clambers over loose, rotting meat infested with maggots. A burial scene is particularly heart-wrenching and touches on something most games don't even attempt to deal with.

Flashes of Joy: A Symbiotic Dichotomy

The game bounces back and forth between oppressive bleakness and serenity, highlighting how pristine the natural scenery can be when not being perverted by twisted trolls and nefarious witches.

The darkest moments mean the brightest ones are more effective,creating a symbiotic dichotomy where each side benefits the other.

Standard Gameplay: A Compensating Tone and Presentation

Players run, jump, climb, and hide, as is the standard for the genre , and do little else of note. The game's tone and presentation are its best components and are able to compensate for its relatively standard gameplay.

The expertise from those teams is near the apex of the entire industry, so it makes sense how most other games wouldn't be able to quite hit that benchmark.