Koira review — a gentle 2D story that chills to the bone

Koira is a debut 2D adventure game by Belgian studio Tolima that tells the story of a man trying to survive with a small dog in a dangerous forest, while revealing several important themes. Gameplay-wise, the game is simple and requires the player to solve simple puzzles, but thanks to the magical atmosphere, short timing, and hand-drawn visuals, you can play the game in one breath. And given that the publisher is Don't Nod, which is known for games like Life is Strange, Jusant, and Lost Records, which I love, I just couldn't pass it up and set off to explore the new virtual world.

A quick jump:

• Story: not every drama needs words
• Gameplay: suitable for everyone
• Soulful visuals and soundtrack
• How Koira will be remembered
• Five things you need to know about Koira

Synopsis.

Koira is an atmospheric indie game that combines adventure, emotional storytelling, and an immersive atmosphere. Players control a little girl who finds a lonely puppy during her journey. Together they overcome natural obstacles, solve puzzles and discover a world full of magic and danger. The game focuses on the emotional connections between the characters, conveying their story without words through visuals and music, touching on themes of friendship, trust, struggle and care.

The plot: not every drama needs words

There is a mysterious person in a magical forest. We don't know her name or what she is doing in the forest. And soon she finds a small puppy that someone has tied up and left hanging. But after the rescue, the two characters quickly establish contact, and so their journey begins.

And if at the very beginning it seems that this forest is a cosy and paradisiacal place, the further you go into this forest, the better you realise that the first impression can be deceptive. The forest is undoubtedly beautiful (even very beautiful), but those who are in it with us cannot be described in good words. It's one thing when you meet a wild boar. This is its territory, and it should not be surprising that it will defend its home from an unknown person with a dog. But even with a wild boar, you can find a common language, but not with hunters and their evil dogs.

Fun fact: Koira means "dog" in Finnish, so it's not the name of the dog in the game. Illustration: Tolima

They catch and shoot all those who come across their path. So, a pleasant walk eventually turns into a real challenge, where you have to save your life and your new friend, and at the same time help other inhabitants of the forest not to fall into the hands of the most horrible creatures of mankind (I mean people, not boars).

And during this intense, albeit short, adventure, the game will have time to reveal several interesting themes. And while the themes of friendship, love and care are generally clear and not worth dwelling on once again, the theme of fighting for what you want is interesting. More than once, someone will try to catch and kill you and your dog. In such situations, you have no choice but to fight and even gnaw out your peace.

In addition to the dog, we will meet other animals. We can even ride a wild boar. Illustration: Tolima

It just so happens that part of our world has become too soft in recent years. Hence the cases where criminals often get away with it and are not punished.

Koira shows that evil only understands the language of force, and no matter how much people like your decisions, the only option is to fight back, because it's about protecting what is close to you and what you are not ready to lose. And I really like the way Tolima raises all these issues, skilfully combines them and gives us a story that doesn't even need words to evoke a range of emotions.

As a result, we have a good fairy tale that has something to show and teach. So Koira is primarily suitable for those who have not played many games, or for young gamers who will defend their dog in an atmospheric forest from those who will try their best to disturb your peace, but you are not "boys to beat" and will show what can happen to those who think they can do anything.

Although the characters in this story do not speak words, they communicate through music. Illustration: Tolima

Gameplay: suitable for everyone

Gameplay-wise, the game is quite simple and can be completed even by a person who is holding a gamepad for the first time. Most of the time, Koira consists of simple puzzles. For example, there is a mysterious totem on a location and you need to find three notes to activate it and move on. These notes can be hidden in different places and require a separate approach to find. Sometimes you need to solve a puzzle with puzzles, sometimes you need to knock on bird nests in the right order. But usually, it's enough to run around the location quickly to figure out which key you need to answer.

One of the most popular puzzles in the game is to collect three notes to move on. However, the approach to solving them is always different: Tolima

Besides, the game can offer more dynamic segments. For example, you will have to hide in the bushes from enemies and find a safe route to escape. And if everything seems too simple at first, when the dogs start patrolling the area and one of them is standing right in front of the only exit, you have to use your logic and strategist to leave the danger zone unnoticed.

The gameplay section when you need to distract the boar to escape

And sometimes the game just gives you the opportunity to relax and offers super simple mini-games, so if you are in a melancholic mood and want something light, short and interesting at the same time, welcome to Koira.

Sometimes you just need to relax and choose which cloud corresponds to a particular object. Illustration: Tolima

Soulful visuals and audio accompaniment

I've mentioned many times how magical the game is, and this impression was strongly influenced by the game's artists who drew all the locations and objects. You just want to walk around these picturesque locations, look at everything around you and take dozens of screenshots. And this is the case when there is no point in describing something in detail and you just need to see it with your own eyes.

Audio to enhance the atmosphere

I didn't notice any problems with the sounds either. Music sounds at the right moments and sets the tone for the events. There is dramatic music that emphasises important moments, more tense music that sounds during encounters with enemies, and a calm melody in the background that accompanies you and enhances the atmosphere.

How Koira will be remembered

Koira will be remembered as an emotional indie game with fabulous visuals and an interesting story that can reveal important topics without words. And thanks to its gameplay, the game can be safely recommended to those who are just starting to explore the world of virtual worlds. Personally, I want to support such projects, because it is clear that the authors approached the creation of the game with their hearts (this is why we love indie games). And if you need emotional support right now, then Koira is worth paying attention to.

Koira fascinates with its emotional depth thanks to the combination of a soulful visual style, a gentle soundtrack, and an almost wordless narrative that encourages the player to feel the story, not just watch it. It all comes together to create a mix that conveys a sense of loss, hope and connection without a single word.

Five things you need to know about Koira

• Koira is a debut game by the Belgian studio Tolima
• The game is created in the 2D adventure genre
• The story tells about a mysterious person who, together with a dog, has to survive in a fabulous but dangerous forest
• Koira is constantly fascinating with its visuals and you want to stay in this magical world as long as possible
• The game is published by Don't Nod, which you know for sure at least from Life is Strange

4 reasons to buy Koira:

• You want to take a break from the tumultuous news of today
• You would like to have a puppy, but you can't get one in real life yet
• An interesting approach when the whole story is told through the environment, not words
• You can ride a wild boar

1 reason not to buy Koira:

• It's above my level of abstraction

Go Deeper:

• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage review — memories that would be better left in the past
• Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden review
• Mountaineer's escapism: meditative adventure game Jusant review
• Split Fiction review: dynamic cooperative adventure
• A Fairy Tale with Rats, Frogs, and Bats, told by Witcher: Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter review