Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley - A Decidedly Unexciting Tune

Being somewhat well versed in the Moomin lore, having read most of the books and comics and watched the 1990s Japanese animated series, I was kind of intrigued about an official Moomin game. It’s a rare treat, as the rightsholders are very stingy with their licensing rights. So, what have the Norwegian developers done with it? At the moment there’s only a demo version available, which functions as a short introduction to the full experience.

The game is centered around Snufkin, who for many represents a certain free spiritedness. He’s a restless wandering spirit who regularly makes an exit from Moominvalley on foot to escape the winter season into distant lands beyond the Lonely Mountains; a sort of proto hippie who doesn’t care about the rules or the rat race of mundane life. It’s therefore no wonder he’s one of the most beloved characters in the franchise. Returning from one of his journeys, it quickly becomes obvious that something is amiss in Moominvalley. Alas, the more revealing events are reserved for the full version.

In terms of atmosphere, it’s all very peaceful and relaxing. The hand-drawn graphics are on the one hand beautiful, reminiscent of Tove Jansson’s original art, but on the other hand somewhat run of the mill and dull, lacking a striking contrast. The music and sounds are an important aspect of the game, with Snufkin’s harmonica playing being employed as a main game mechanic. The game soundtrack is courtesy of famed Icelandic indie music group Sigur Ros, with lots of soft whale-moaning on the soundtrack. It’s pleasantly sweet and autumnal while being directly in tow with the game’s intended calming aesthetics.

Who will comfort the rock hauler?

The game mechanics themselves are simplistic. Most of the time you’re just moving stuff from place to place to reach certain spots. Some of the puzzle elements do require a little more thinking, like launching birds to distract the guards or sneaking in the stealth portions, but it still feels very much like a walking simulator. As the game highlights the spots where you can perform certain actions, it removes player agenda even further, reducing things to mundane fetch quests. It’s hard to say how complex things will get in the later stages, but this doesn’t really give me a lot of faith.

In terms of faithfulness to the source material, it scores high points. The main themes of Moomin are generally about friendship, adventure, and the appreciation of nature, and those are well represented even in these introductory stages of the game. The feel is spot-on, and the characters look just the way they should. It’s a shame there’s no spoken dialogue, but this is countered by the fact that there is an abundance of language options. They’ve even managed to instill a certain anarchic element into the proceedings, especially as Snufkin is removing signs to satisfy the hardened vandal in him. This, as well as the naming of the little creature you encounter at the beginning, is lifted directly from the books, which is a welcome touch.

A hedge maze with signs and flowers and a guard to avoid

Breaking the law

It’s all exactly what one would expect from a Moomin game, for better or for worse. Easy to solve puzzles and plenty of atmosphere. This isn’t quite the bland educational game that the previous license games have been, but it’s not very far removed. Not that there’s anything wrong in a tranquil experience, but some challenge would be appreciated. Maybe someday we’ll have a GTA Moominvalley or Snufkinborne? That being said, casual gamers, Moomin fans and friends of cozy games will probably feel straight at home.

Snufkin fishing on a pier in broad daylight

Gone fishin’

Basic info
Title: Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley
Developer: Hyper Games
Publisher: Raw Fury
Platforms: PC
Release Date: March 2024
Genres: adventure, indie game, music, puzzle

Photos: Screenshots from the game, taken by Tuukka Hämäläinen

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Tuukka Hämäläinen

Marathon runner & pop culture connoisseur, tries and sometimes succeeds in finding time for gaming. Plays anything but veers towards RPGs, adventures, and indies. If a game has jumping monkeys, he'll love it. Will also humiliate himself in any board game, including chess.

Meri Kallio

Obsessed with dystopian action-adventures, horror games and E-sports, and could talk about them hours on end, every chance she gets. Loves to relax by playing League with her cat on her lap.

#moomin #cozy game #Indie #Adventure #puzzle #casual #adaptation #game review