Europa

With spectacular landscapes and soothing music, Europa is a deeply zen experience - yet is also capable of delivering some hard-hitting messages.

A game all about gliding and exploring trips over its own feet.

Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash. A gorgeous breath of fresh air that you can complete in one sitting. However, the enemies and the gameplay can get repetitive from time to time.

Europa doesn't ask much of you, but left us asking lots of questions. The story feels half-baked, the controls are clunky, and we're still unclear on the objective. The beautiful backdrop is its best feature, and it's very relaxing to play in parts. It's hard to recommend this game because there's nothing it does terribly, but there's nothing it does terribly well either. Every element present here can be found elsewhere, and better – with no need to travel to a moon of Jupiter.

Europa looks to offer a meditative experience, as you explore gorgeous vistas backed up by an outstanding soundtrack, and it can offer this, only it is piecemeal. Far too often it trips itself up by killing the traversal and exploration, and throwing things at you that are never challenging, and only annoying,

Overall, while Europa isn't troubling my 2024 best-of list, its visuals, charm and story do enough to lift it above average and make it worth a look.

Europa hits every mark in my book for a good quality 3D platformer adventure. It follows the story of Zee, an android boy, as he discovers his past told through his father’s journal entries that are scattered across the land. Its captivating art style, music, and engaging story trapped me within its grasp just a few minutes into the game. Gliding through the environment proved to be my best friend and my worst enemy as I successfully dodged enemies but missed a few of the many collectibles hidden throughout this adventure! The emotional impact of this story’s plot twist will live on in my heart as I slide back into life to uncover my own destiny!

While Europa lacks depth and replayability, the game's $15 price point still makes it well worth the cost. Despite the linear landscapes and limited game play, players can expect to get at least four hours of entertainment out of the main storyline. Given its focus on visuals, music, and storytelling, Europa is most ideal for those looking for an easy and relaxing gaming experience.

Even though Europa didn’t turn out to be what I’d hoped for, it’s still worth your time if you’re looking for a completely casual experience. I think I was lead astray by the trailers, which make it look more curious and puzzle-centered than it actually is. I was expecting something more along the lines of Omno or RiME, but what we got was something more akin to a Journey knock-off. It’s not bad by any means, just not quite what I was hoping for.

Europa isn’t quite the boundless adventure that I was expecting. The joyful aerial exploration is held back by portions of lead-heavy ground traversal, slowing the gameplay to a crawl and sapping enjoyment from the experience. The visuals are striking at a distance but fail to hold up to closer scrutiny, making the decision not to make the game an entirely fly-by experience all the more baffling. Underpinned by a meaningful message that’s delivered with real heart, and boasting an incredibly powerful soundtrack, Europa, sadly, feels like an agonising near-miss.