A young boy washes ashore on a deserted island.
A young boy washes ashore on a deserted island.

The ruins of an ancient society dot the lush landscape while rivers carve paths in the
The ruins of an ancient society dot the lush landscape while rivers carve paths in the

stone and wild animals feast of the fruits growing on bushes.
stone and wild animals feast of the fruits growing on bushes.

With a red cape fashioned around his neck and a song in his heart, the boy explores
With a red cape fashioned around his neck and a song in his heart, the boy explores

the beautiful wasteland and solves puzzles to progress deeper into this mysterious world
the beautiful wasteland and solves puzzles to progress deeper into this mysterious world

all in the hopes of finding out who he is and why he’s all alone.
all in the hopes of finding out who he is and why he’s all alone.

That description sounds pretty familiar, doesn’t it?
That description sounds pretty familiar, doesn’t it?

Rime is a combat-free adventure pulls from a plethora of games ranging from the unspoken
Rime is a combat-free adventure pulls from a plethora of games ranging from the unspoken

narrative of Journey to the puzzle solving of Ico and the ingenuity of The Unfinished
narrative of Journey to the puzzle solving of Ico and the ingenuity of The Unfinished

Swan.
Swan.

Pick your favorite recent puzzle-heavy indie darling and there’s probably some nod to
Pick your favorite recent puzzle-heavy indie darling and there’s probably some nod to

it in Rime.
it in Rime.

But Rime proves that it’s not always a bad thing when a game feels familiar.
But Rime proves that it’s not always a bad thing when a game feels familiar.

The first chapter of Rime has you climbing up ledges and swimming in the deep blue sea
The first chapter of Rime has you climbing up ledges and swimming in the deep blue sea

as you try to figure out what your purpose is.
as you try to figure out what your purpose is.

There’s little in the way of a guiding hand in Rime and I found these early moments enthralling.
There’s little in the way of a guiding hand in Rime and I found these early moments enthralling.

Unsure what I was supposed to do, I traipsed down every winding path just to see the beautiful
Unsure what I was supposed to do, I traipsed down every winding path just to see the beautiful

views that awaited me.
views that awaited me.

I picked giant orange fruits from bushes to befriend animals and hunted for out-of-the-way
I picked giant orange fruits from bushes to befriend animals and hunted for out-of-the-way

pedestals where the odd collectible was placed.
pedestals where the odd collectible was placed.

It was aimless in all the right ways, an entire world with no rules just waiting to be explored.
It was aimless in all the right ways, an entire world with no rules just waiting to be explored.

Before long, momentum and more confined level design push you from one puzzle to the next.
Before long, momentum and more confined level design push you from one puzzle to the next.

Gone was the time spent lonely trekking down unknown paths.
Gone was the time spent lonely trekking down unknown paths.

I missed that carefree beginning but was soon engrossed in the myriad puzzles.
I missed that carefree beginning but was soon engrossed in the myriad puzzles.

Early ones have you sing to glowing orbs to releasing their hidden energy.
Early ones have you sing to glowing orbs to releasing their hidden energy.

Although figuring out how to progress was easy enough, it was still a joy because of
Although figuring out how to progress was easy enough, it was still a joy because of

how lovely the boy’s voice is and the accompanying orchestral score set a somber mood that kept
how lovely the boy’s voice is and the accompanying orchestral score set a somber mood that kept

me pushing onward.
me pushing onward.

Rime often used its excellent artistic design and soundtrack to keep me engaged even when
Rime often used its excellent artistic design and soundtrack to keep me engaged even when

the puzzles were rather simple.
the puzzles were rather simple.

An early section had me finding lights to illuminate an invisible bridge.
An early section had me finding lights to illuminate an invisible bridge.

Without a song in which a woman sings while my boy hero hummed along, I might have grown
Without a song in which a woman sings while my boy hero hummed along, I might have grown

bored by its simplicity, but I was completely invested because the audio/visual experience
bored by its simplicity, but I was completely invested because the audio/visual experience

is so great.
is so great.

Unfortunately, Rime often undercuts its best aspect.
Unfortunately, Rime often undercuts its best aspect.

There is a ton of slowdown in Rime.
There is a ton of slowdown in Rime.

I don’t care when games run at a consistent, low framerate, but big drops can give me a
I don’t care when games run at a consistent, low framerate, but big drops can give me a

headache.
headache.

Rime never got that bad, but there were dozens of section marred by slowdown.
Rime never got that bad, but there were dozens of section marred by slowdown.

It’s a real shame, too, because there’s such strong visual design throughout the adventure.
It’s a real shame, too, because there’s such strong visual design throughout the adventure.

If you prefer playing handheld style, Rime performs about the same as it does when running
If you prefer playing handheld style, Rime performs about the same as it does when running

on a television.
on a television.

This is a great game to lay down on the couch while playing because it’s such a relaxing
This is a great game to lay down on the couch while playing because it’s such a relaxing

adventure.
adventure.

And the environmental clues that point you toward solutions are easy to see even on a
And the environmental clues that point you toward solutions are easy to see even on a

smaller screen.
smaller screen.

Just try not to get too down about that pesky slowdown.
Just try not to get too down about that pesky slowdown.

Thankfully, the technical hit doesn’t undermine the joy of exploring this unknown world.
Thankfully, the technical hit doesn’t undermine the joy of exploring this unknown world.

There are long stretches when you’re figuring out a series of small puzzles that ties into
There are long stretches when you’re figuring out a series of small puzzles that ties into

one large one.
one large one.

These are some of my favorite moments in Rime.
These are some of my favorite moments in Rime.

During one such case, a maniacal bird is out hunting this poor boy.
During one such case, a maniacal bird is out hunting this poor boy.

He strikes from above whenever you step out into the sunlight and every time I was caught
He strikes from above whenever you step out into the sunlight and every time I was caught

by my unstoppable pursuer, I jumped in my seat.
by my unstoppable pursuer, I jumped in my seat.

These encounters were the one time during the course of the ten-hour adventure that
These encounters were the one time during the course of the ten-hour adventure that

the relaxing mood gave way to tension and fear.
the relaxing mood gave way to tension and fear.

It took a few hours to complete this portion.
It took a few hours to complete this portion.

As I triggered a lightning strike to give the bird a jolt, unearthed hidden passageways
As I triggered a lightning strike to give the bird a jolt, unearthed hidden passageways

beneath the waters, and jumped between ledges just beyond the reach of his beak, I felt
beneath the waters, and jumped between ledges just beyond the reach of his beak, I felt

a thrill that was a welcome shift in tone.
a thrill that was a welcome shift in tone.

There are achievements in Rime.
There are achievements in Rime.

I’m not ashamed to admit that the one thing I would change about the Switch is a built-in
I’m not ashamed to admit that the one thing I would change about the Switch is a built-in

achievement system, so I was glad that my small triumphs were documented.
achievement system, so I was glad that my small triumphs were documented.

The optional collectibles also helped draw me deeper into this journey.
The optional collectibles also helped draw me deeper into this journey.

I unlocked small toys, alternate clothing, and pictures that detailed my adventures and
I unlocked small toys, alternate clothing, and pictures that detailed my adventures and

hinted at untold stories.
hinted at untold stories.

These are the collectibles I most enjoy hunting for, items that flesh out the story, characters,
These are the collectibles I most enjoy hunting for, items that flesh out the story, characters,

and world but don’t burden you with the daunting prospect of finding everyone.
and world but don’t burden you with the daunting prospect of finding everyone.

I was fine finding only a handful of the many scattered across the varied landscape and
I was fine finding only a handful of the many scattered across the varied landscape and

was more than fulfilled with how the story played out.
was more than fulfilled with how the story played out.

I won’t spoil anything but the ending was moving in ways that are all-too-rare in gaming.
I won’t spoil anything but the ending was moving in ways that are all-too-rare in gaming.

Despite having so many positive things to say about Rime, I wasn’t captivating like
Despite having so many positive things to say about Rime, I wasn’t captivating like

I was by its more accomplished peers.
I was by its more accomplished peers.

The puzzles were unique and well-thought out but lacked that bit of creativity that makes
The puzzles were unique and well-thought out but lacked that bit of creativity that makes

me mutter in amazement when I finally figure out a solution.
me mutter in amazement when I finally figure out a solution.

With only so many possible options, getting past a blockade was more or less a guessing
With only so many possible options, getting past a blockade was more or less a guessing

game, a tiny roadblock that usually required no more than a few minutes of thought to complete.
game, a tiny roadblock that usually required no more than a few minutes of thought to complete.

I also wish Rime wasn’t so on-the-nose in its references to other games.
I also wish Rime wasn’t so on-the-nose in its references to other games.

There’s a figure cloaked in red who appears at random points who might as well be one
There’s a figure cloaked in red who appears at random points who might as well be one

of the nameless heroes from Journey.
of the nameless heroes from Journey.

It’s not a bad thing to see a nod to a beloved game but I wish Rime had more of an identity
It’s not a bad thing to see a nod to a beloved game but I wish Rime had more of an identity

of its own.
of its own.

The way you can hum and shout felt like Wander calling for his horse in Shadow of the Colossus
The way you can hum and shout felt like Wander calling for his horse in Shadow of the Colossus

and the interior sections could have been deleted scenes from Ico.
and the interior sections could have been deleted scenes from Ico.

Again, if you’re going to make homages to other games, the team at Tequila Works couldn’t
Again, if you’re going to make homages to other games, the team at Tequila Works couldn’t

have picked better inspirations, I just wish there was more here that was purely Rime.
have picked better inspirations, I just wish there was more here that was purely Rime.

I admit I have a soft spot for quiet adventures.
I admit I have a soft spot for quiet adventures.

There are few things more exciting to me than being lost in a digital world where I have
There are few things more exciting to me than being lost in a digital world where I have

to figure out the rules, objectives, and the story by poking and prodding until the game
to figure out the rules, objectives, and the story by poking and prodding until the game

reveals its secrets.
reveals its secrets.

Rime has so much joy in its discovery, beauty in its visuals, and serenity in its music
Rime has so much joy in its discovery, beauty in its visuals, and serenity in its music

that I was hooked the entire time.
that I was hooked the entire time.

Even though I may struggle to remember the finer details in Rime years from now, I still
Even though I may struggle to remember the finer details in Rime years from now, I still

liked it a lot, and am glad it made its way to Nintendo’s platform.
liked it a lot, and am glad it made its way to Nintendo’s platform.