Bramble: The Mountain King

A triumph of sinister mood let down by archaic puzzle design.

There's a lot to like about Bramble: The Mountain King. Through its narration and fantastical environments, Dimfrost Studio does a great job at making you feel like you're taking part in an unsettling, if a little too long, fable laden with mythological creatures. The game's puzzle-platforming segments do nothing extraordinary, yet strike a nice balance between simplicity and challenge, and though the set camera and cumbersome movement can often get in the way, frequent checkpoints alleviate much of the frustration. However, depending on how much performance issues annoy you – stuttering, pop-in, frame rate drops – this is an adventure that might be best played elsewhere.

Bramble: The Mountain King is as gorgeous as it is horrifying, with surprises lurking around every corner. The game excels at building tension and suspense while maintaining visual splendor throughout. Although the game isn’t particularly long–I rolled credits around 7 hours–it is an experience that horror game enthusiasts will not want to miss.

Bramble: The Mountain King is a title with many positive aspects, First-rate settings and atmospheres go hand in hand with excellent technical realization; on a narrative level we talk about a real medieval fairy tale: evil, violent, moralistic and terrifying.

It's a real shame that Bramble: The Mountain King suffers from such limiting game design issues, as they compromise the narrative of its dark and disturbing tale. On the gameplay side it doesn't do much to stand out from the crowd, but the atmosphere that supports it saves it from being a total disappointment.

If you're not put off by heavy themes, I couldn't suggest this title more; Bramble: The Mountain King is one of the few titles of this genre I wish I had played sooner.

I think I've rarely been so clear that a game in which gameplay is not its main attraction, manages to be a real game. The way in which Dimfrost Studio manages to make you feel inside a fable with dark touches is brilliant. From the artistic design to the short puzzles designed to let you move fast are well measured.

Bramble: The Mountain King deserves praise for the care that went into its creation and the uniqueness of its fascinating and evocative Scandinavian folklore-inspired setting, but above all, it deserves recognition for its characters. Perhaps a little too short-lived.

Bramble: The Mountain King is one the most delightful surprises of 2023. while getting inspiration from other Survival / Adventure games, Bramble: The Mountain King has its own unique identity. if you're looking for a unique, entertaining Survival experience with Adventure and Platforming Elements, give it a try.

Sometimes manipulative, sometimes incoherent, this work still has the powerful power of folklore.