Little Orpheus
Review

Little Orpheus (2020) is a running and jumping game set in 1962 where you play Ivan Ivanovich as he explores lost civilisations, undersea kingdoms and prehistoric jungles. The game is played in retrospect as you explain your adventures to a general suspicious of your loss of the atomic power source from your shuttle.

Inspired by classic movies like Flash Gordon, Sinbad and The Land that Time Forgot, you play through eight bitesize episodes as you try and escape to your craft (the Little Orpheus). Interactions are designed with a touch screen in mind, and keep things simple while still requiring good timing. Adding a bluetooth controller extends the experience with more precision.

Along with the puzzles and platform the game works hard at the narrative and voice acting. It's unusual because it commits to the cold war setting -- both the absurdity and humanity of it. Novelty is extended by pitting us as the Russian explorer who is suspected of defecting. As you work to clear your name, you can't help but connect with Ivan.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Little Orpheus 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 11 months ago.