Röki review - Scandinavian fairytale with a razor-sharp edge

Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac; Polygon Treehouse/United Label
A girl must rescue her brother from the clutches of a mythical beast in this poignant and strikingly designed adventure

This impressively rich point-and-click adventure game from the British indie studio Polygon Treehouse sweeps players into a sprawling Scandinavian fairytale with a razor-sharp edge. The protagonist, a young girl named Tove, must navigate a strange cel-shaded landscape to rescue her mischievous brother Lars from the clutches of a mythical beast.

It's a compelling, unsettling child-abduction storyline that wouldn't look out of place in a Scandi-noir drama. Although Roki's snowy hills, giant lakes and cosy wood cabins may seem designed to nudge players into a state of hygge, a persistent air of menace prevents the experience from feeling too comfortable.