Grab one of 2023’s best atmospheric indie games cheap in Steam sale

Bramble The Mountain King is, for my cash, one in every of 2023’s most beautiful and hanging indie games. This atmospheric motion platformer impressed by darkish Nordic fables comes from Sweden-based Dimfrost Studio, and it’s fairly the achievement for simply the staff’s second outing. Scored by a unbelievable soundtrack that ranges from the haunting to the bombastic, Bramble The Mountain King has caught vividly in my reminiscence – and now due to a Steam sale you possibly can seize it at an enormous low cost, so transfer quick.

Following the story of a younger boy named Olle who’s thrown into the whims of journey when his sister is taken captive by a troll, you set out into the eponymous land of Bramble in the hunt for her whereabouts. However the unusual lands are residence to all method of mysterious and terrifying creatures – a few of which is likely to be pleasant, however lots of whom are decidedly not.

Olle makes use of his Spark of Braveness to beat the assorted trials he encounters, which vary from navigating the surroundings and watching out for traps to dealing with down quite a few ominous creatures impressed by Nordic mythology. The attractive, misty forests play residence to all method of risks, massive and small, and also you’ll must hold your eyes skilled always.

The ‘boss fights’ are maybe a few of Bramble’s most interesting moments – many usually are not easy showdowns however fairly prolonged sequences the place you could elude their consideration and work out cross by or overcome the creature. Once they do flip to extra straight-up fights, Olle can use his Spark a bit like an over-the-shoulder shooter to seek out weak spots in his opponents’ armor and are available out triumphant.

I used to be actually taken by Bramble’s sense of place and ambiance. Its mechanics are strong sufficient to not get in the best way, if nothing too exceptional, however the artwork course, sound design, and animation come collectively to make one thing really particular. From the haunting warped, actuality of the Pesta to the screaming fairytale horror of the Kärrhäxan, every encounter in Bramble feels distinctive from the others, and so they’re all burned into my mind.

Because the trailer teases, you do even get to listen to Grieg’s iconic Within the Corridor of the Mountain King – and, regardless of the potential for cliché, the purpose when it occurs is a powerful contender for my favourite second of the yr in any sport thus far.

Bramble The Mountain King is 40% off on Steam till August 18, 2023 – count on to pay $17.99 / £14.99 down from $29.99 / £24.99. If you wish to bask in its beautiful artwork and sound design much more, the Digital Deluxe Version together with the soundtrack and a digital artbook is 46% off – that’s $21.03 / £17.81, down from $38.97 / £32.99.

You may buy Bramble the Mountain King on Steam. It’s additionally obtainable as a part of the PC Sport Go library by way of the Xbox app, in the event you’re a subscriber to Microsoft’s service.

Alternatively, we’ve obtained extra of the most effective single-player games you could play in 2023, or you possibly can browse the most effective horror games on PC to bask in much more creepy, atmospheric adventures.