Koira has just been released on Steam and I bought it right at release for a change. Because the demo had already completely enchanted me some time ago.
Video games can tell stories like no other medium. Unlike movies and books, they involve us as players directly in the story and let us become part of it. At least ideally, because not every game tells a compelling story, or any story at all.
A beautiful story that is only possible as a video game is also told by Koira, which has just been released on Steam. And I was so impressed by the demo version that I definitely want to recommend the title to you.
A melodic journey
What Koira is about can be summarized quickly: my character and her dog, who experience adventures together and survive dangers. Everything else remains vague or is left to my imagination. For example, why I am in this world at all, what my goal and my past are.
The story of Koira unfolds in the background while I observe the beautifully designed game world and enjoy the atmosphere.There are no dialogues or texts, instead my dog and I communicate with bird-like songs. But with my melodic tones, I can also address other inhabitants of the world and receive answers.
Koira doesn’t stand out in a playful way: I walk around the world, interact with objects, collect apples, throw sticks for my dog, and solve simple puzzles.
But is Koira really all that special if the story and gameplay are so simple? For me, yes. Despite, or perhaps because of its simplicity, the game managed to enchant me from the very first few minutes. It stimulates my imagination with its empty spaces – who am I, what am I doing here? – instead of throwing explanations and made-up terms at me.
Instead of a complex, convoluted story, I get a simple tale of friendship that works without words. From the first minute, I develop a bond with my little dog with the glowing nose, and I share his joys and sorrows on our adventure together. For me,
Koira is the perfect game when I want to cozy up on the sofa with the controller and enjoy a game on the TV. With a playing time of three to four hours, you can play through the story in one go. If 16 euros is too much for you, don’t miss the opportunity to get it on sale!
