I just finished playing Bramble: The Mountain King and I'm still reeling from how immersive it is. The game's atmosphere is seriously something else, and it really gets under your skin. I'm having a hard time putting my finger on exactly why, but I'll try to break it down for you – especially if you're into reimagining fairy tales, platformers, and heartwarming stories. Just be aware that it can get pretty emotional, and not always in a good way.

Basic info about Bramble: The Mountain King.

The game dropped in 2023, courtesy of Dimfrost Studio and Merge Games.

It's got a solid foundation in Scandinavian folklore, and there's even some horror elements thrown in – more on that later.

The story is pretty straightforward: a kid named Olle wakes up one morning to find his sister Lilliemor MIA. He sets out to find her in the forest, where they initially just hang out and meet some pretty cool creatures – gnomes and fairies. It's all pretty chill at first, but things take a dark turn when Lilliemor gets kidnapped by a troll. Then Olle's gotta rescue her on his own. Without giving too much away, let's just say the game does an amazing job of making you feel for the kid, and it's a wild ride – you won't be bored, that's for sure.

In the gnomes' village

Another fantastical creatureThe game is all about contrasts. Why I played Bramble from start to finish.

Like I said, the beginning is pretty laid-back. The world feels like a living fairy tale: lush fields, a cozy gnome village, giant mushrooms (like in Alice in Wonderland), babbling brooks, and more – it's hard not to be charmed. Honestly, I wanted to feel like I was right there in the game, and the graphics are seriously realistic and beautiful.

Enchanting

But what really gets me is that there are horror elements here. It's not just mindless jump scares – it's a full-on atmosphere shift: the lights go out, and you're hit with some pretty intense scenes that you don't see coming, especially after the cute stuff you've seen so far. Reminds me of the Brothers Grimm stories – it's like that level of unflinching brutality. When you see a troll cooking up something in the kitchen and you think, 'Hey, maybe I'll be the main course,' it's not just your imagination running wild – the game can actually make that happen. Like, you know, getting caught in a trap or stepping on a spike. Or, you know, poor Olle getting eaten alive.

That's when things started to get real scary.

The sense of safety just gets blown to smithereens. And I especially love how vulnerable our protagonist is in this world. If it weren't for the game's mechanics, he'd be toast – no way he could outrun those giant creatures, no way he could keep going without a break, no way he could climb or crawl or jump his way out of trouble.

But there are some sweet, heartwarming moments too.

The further you go, the more intense it gets, and poor Olle's got to deal with some serious destruction, brutality, and the consequences of the plague. He's trying to do the right thing, and it's pretty clear that one person, even with a magic stone, just isn't enough. There are things that are just beyond our control. The magic starts to run out, and it's all about showing you the harsh reality – like in our own history books.

I loved the music at this point.

Enemies are hot on Olle\u2019s heelsOn bosses and battles with them.

I've gotta say, every boss in this game has stuck with me (even if I can barely remember their names). Given the size difference, Olle's gotta rely on quick reflexes, stealth, and cunning to take them down.

The battle with Nekken was intense – I'm not even sure if you can call it a battle. The game does an amazing job of ratcheting up the tension: one wrong move and you're back to square one, and even if you're moving at lightning speed, the boss can still catch up to you. The animations are top-notch, and I've got to give credit to the devs for their attention to detail when it comes to Norse mythology.

Each boss has a book with their backstory

Old Hag Pest is the personification of disease and death – she's armed with a rake and a broom. The fight against her is utterly bonkers, seared into my memory, and has a touch of surrealism to it.

Of course, she's not the only boss in the game. But let's just say they're a surprise for those who haven't played or watched a walkthrough (although, in my opinion, it's way better to play through it yourself to experience the full range of emotions).

Puppet-like charactersThe positive characters – Olle, Lillimor, and Tova – have big eyes, small noses, and pursed lips, making them look like 'pups.' Ironically, some of my friends found this unsettling. I think it was done to make the player more attached to them, but I'm indifferent to the decision. It didn't really make me go 'awww,' nor did it repel me.

Who might not enjoy this game?

People who are sensitive to violence and gore - let's be real, there's a ton of it, and I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. The scenes are super intense, and the story's pretty darn dark too. I'm a pretty empathetic person, and even I found myself getting a little uncomfortable at times. Who's likely to love this game?

Fans of dark, twisted stories and fairy tales - this game's got all the ingredients; Fans of platformers - the jumping, grabbing, timing, and strategy required to get through levels is all here; Fans of straightforward puzzles; Fans of Norse mythology and beyond - the game's got some really cool nods to the old stories; People who prefer games that don't require a huge time commitment - this one's a great fit if you're short on time.

Honestly, the final boss and the ending didn't quite live up to my expectations. But despite that, the game's made it into my top favorites, and I'd be stoked to buy a sequel or something similar from the same developer.

Thanks for reading!