Effie

Effie (2019) is an action-adventure game where you work through dungeons to defeat a witch and restore your youth. Drawing on classic Zelda games, you fight monsters, clear obstacle courses, and solve puzzles. It stands out for the story narrated by your future self, telling a young girl about the adventure you're experiencing as you play.

---

You play by controlling a young man cursed by old age. Wielding a magical shield that grows in power the more levels you complete, you fight baddies, solve puzzles, and dash through levels to get closer to the witch. Each area tests your reaction speed and gives you challenging timed jumps with moving platforms.

As you progress, you unlock powerful abilities that help you fight, which are especially helpful when you face a lot of enemies at once. For example, you can defend yourself and deflect damage or use the shield as a boomerang. After getting through a level, you complete boss battles - a tricky mixture of running and jumping through dangerous terrain and combat with enemies.

Despite the tricky jumps, levels aren't hard to complete, making Effie perfect for beginners or those who want a laid-back story to enjoy without much difficulty.

---

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Effie 6 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 6 weeks ago.