Have you ever had the perfect video game fall into your lap just when you need it most? Cozy Games, like Europa, don’t usually come with a massive lead-up filled with hype and anticipation. Instead, they are about timing and placement, mood and aesthetics. Europa is all of that. It arrived in my Switch library at the exact moment I needed it: a cozy game to soothe the soul, let me relax, and give a tiny spark to my imagination on a cold, dreary day.
I have spent the last month managing sinus migraines. It’s hayfever season in Australia and all I want to do is curl up on the couch and game. Big Kudos to Novadust Entertainment and Future Friends Games for sending me a review copy of Europa. Your timing is *chef’s kiss* For a cozy game, it ticks all the boxes: The graphics are very Ghibli-esque, the music is soothing, and the narrative is well-paced with a good balance of curiousity. To be fair, Europa deserves more celebration, but that would go against its character. Instead, we have a sweet game that feels like a soft friend providing all the comfort you need. And that’s just my short snippet review.
What is Europa?
Welcome to the world of Europa, both the name of the game and the name of a moon orbiting around Jupiter. Set in the future, Europa was a terraformed paradise for humans to live. This creates the core of the story; one that focuses on life, restoration, and conservation. Just like the game itself, the messaging is gentle but very, very clear. This is a game where you need to slow down and appreciate its beauty–hopefully, enough to go outside and appreciate the real thing here on Earth.
The gameplay is 3rd-person through an android named Zee. They’re cute, innocent, and curious. They also have a Zephyr jetpack, and all I want for my next birthday is a Zephyr jetpack. I mean, seriously–why walk when you can glide?
Zee has been left a trail of pages from their creator/parent (Adam). Each page reveals more of the history and development of Europa, but there is enough for you to determine yourself. The key is in Adam’s message: “Come to the Island if you ever get lonely. Come here, and think of me.” The entire game is an explorative journey to the floating island to learn more about what happened to Earth, Europa, and humanity. The story, in essence, is complete but also open-ended. Not everything has to have a neat finish. That’s often the story’s point: to inspire for your next step.
Europa’s open-world environment is created with 3D rendering, offering plenty of space to explore and fill the intentional narrative gaps as you play. Zee cannot die, so this game has no significant threats or fears. Just a freedom to explore. However, some creatures may siphon energy or stun or find other ways to interfere with your exploration. That’s when it takes on a puzzle element, encouraging you to find ways around the roadblock. For comparison, think Breath of the Wild but no monsters and more sketching/observing.
Europa Draws You In
The graphical imagery is a significant selling point for the game, and it is promoted with ‘Ghibli-esque illustration’. Easy to see because it’s outright beautiful. Plenty of soft colours, blended palettes, and an almost watercolour-like appearance exist. I especially love the unique depictions of many creatures, with a few familiar ones thrown in. Rabbits and foxes live happily amongst creatures that look like smaller yaks but are definitely something different. There’s also a bit of a homage to Giant Robots, scattered around as now-defunct world-building titans.
While it is beautiful to look at it, I had a few moments where the perspective and camera work broke my immersion. Most of the game has an easy flow for the camera, allowing you to pan around Zee and see all elements in your immediate area. Occasionally, there is a bit of a struggle with perspective, usually in inconvenient moments. For example, trying to get the angle right with a bridge jump. Or jumping to fly in the air, but the perspective spins, and you end up pushing off straight into some energy-sucking creatures to the left. Of course, it’s not a big deal because there is no fall damage or death. But it is frustrating and can sometimes kick at the ‘cozy’ vibe I aim for.
A Soundtrack to Match the Journey
The composers understood the brief. Europa’s soundtrack allows the game’s imagery to tell the story, allowing the music to make its own space. It would have been easy for the composers to include big orchestral pieces, attempting to fill some of the open spaces you explore with Zee. Instead, they took a gorgeous and straightforward approach, with soft instrumental repetition using a small number of instruments to emphasise tone and volume. The music lifts the imagery and gameplay rather than fill around it.
A good test for any soundtrack is how often our spawnlings play it on their computer while studying. Europa has slotted nicely into their top five, alongside Tears of the Kingdom, LEGO: Ninjago, Journey, and Lo-Fi Girl.
Single Player with the Family
At EG Inc., family game time doesn’t always mean the entire family plays the same game at the same time. Sometimes, we are happy to sit and watch one person play while enjoying the storyline unfold. Europa is one of those games. There are multiple ways to play the game: story completion, exploration, token collection, or simply playing around. It really is the epitome of cozy games for the whole family. If your kids watch other gamers on Twitch or YouTube, take turns playing Europa with them. There can be some funny klutzy moments (or that may just be me), but there are plenty of discoveries and learning within the messaging. What can start as a simple 5-minutes of “Hey, check out this gorgeous art!!” can soon turn into 20-minutes of deep bonding.
Other games like Europa have often been referenced as great games for managing mental health or chronic pain management (for more info, check out my earlier post here). I have one friend who loves fishing in Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as her downtime after work. Another likes to cook in Tears of the Kingdom, or imbuing various armour in Godfall. Simple activities have a soothing nature, which Europa has captured in its storytelling and celebrated in its gameplay.
EG Mum Verdict
Score: 4 out of 5 zappy Skitterers (cute, but I’m glad there’s no fall damage in this game)
Honestly, I think this is a fantastic cozy exploration game. The only thing that holds it back is the perception issue, but I don’t know if that is the game or me. As regular readers would know, I’m not the most skilled gamer, but that’s how you end up with honest and realistic reviews. In this case, my weakness is jumping across broken bridges and forced camera angles.
The developers estimate the average gameplay to be 3-4 hours for story completion. I have taken longer than that because I tend to stop and explore everything. I am also yet to reach a point of boredom; there is a beautiful sense of innocent wonder in every scene. For example, I love how Zee can gently interact with every creature, earning a little love-heart of affection. But just because you have won over this creature doesn’t mean you have won over the entire herd. No way–you have to interact with every creature individually. Forget the green crystals; my completionist tendencies want to pat EVERY CREATURE!! Now that’s cozy gamer goals.
Europa is available on Steam and Nintendo Switch for around AUD$21.95 (USD$15/EUR€11). While I preferred playing Europa on the Switch to share with the family, Steam controls are much smoother. The graphics and gameplay are better suited to big-screen play rather than handheld, both for your posture and the detail in the art. For more details about Europa and its game design, head to the official website here.
Happy gliding!
All images are provided with authority to use or screenshots of actual gameplay. All opinions here are my own. Thanks to Novadust Entertainment and Future Friends Games for sending me a review copy.
Categories: video games
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