The Yule cat needs a way to blacken its greying fur. A tree with eyes needs you to clear some ravens from its trunk. A troll blocking the way that needs a sword removing from its shoulder. Along the quest to find her brother, Tove will come across myths/legends which will ask for things in exchange for their help. Roki is an inventory heavy point and click adventure game at heart. So much so that it picked up the award for Best Narrative at this year’s Develop awards. It’s subtle at times, but the story in Roki is fantastic. What’s more, the ‘villains’ of the game have their own arc which is just as impactful as the plot for the protagonists. The game explores the past pains of the family, eventually leading to a beautiful chapter that shows real character growth from the whole cast. While Tove is dealing with the constant state of wonderment and challenge presented by the strange world around her, Lars’ story is one that’s deeply motivational, difficult at times yet hard not to fall in love with.
Not to spoil it here but there’s a depth to the story in Roki which hits some real emotional beats that are rare for this genre. If Tove is to rescue Lars, she’s going to need to deal with godlike creatures and a plethora of mystical beings as she faces off against a villain who feels like the hero in their own story. Lars’ disappearance is tied to the disputes of the Jötun, the 4 giant guardians of the forest. Tove gives pursuit and finds herself drawn into a magical pocket of reality where Swedish myths and legends live and breath. As the two children escape into the snow kissed forest, Lars is grabbed by the monster and dragged through a strange orb of light. That is until one fateful night when their remote home is trashed by a mysterious monster. The family have had a torrid time in the past, having felt the sting of loss, and have settled into their own unique little routine. If you want to get a real feel for Roki in 1.3k words you can tread my read my full review, but if you’re just here for the PS5 version review, here’s a story primer: The game follows the adventure of a teenage girl called Tove, her brother Lars and their father, Henrik.
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