Bramble: The Mountain King Reviews
A triumph of sinister mood let down by archaic puzzle design.
Bramble: The Mountain King is as gorgeous as it is horrifying, with surprises lurking around every corner. The game excels at building tension and suspense while maintaining visual splendor throughout. Although the game isn’t particularly long–I rolled credits around 7 hours–it is an experience that horror game enthusiasts will not want to miss.
At its core, Bramble: The Mountain King is a storybook brought to life in the best way possible. Olle's search for his sister is a wonderful journey inspired by Nordic folklore that is aided by magnificent landscapes, unsettling mythological creatures and an intriguing narrative that culminates in a touching tale of bravery in the face of darkness.
It's a shame Bramble: The Mountain King has such frustrating level design drawbacks because it undercuts a beautifully dark and disturbing fable. It's not doing a whole lot as a game that helps it stick out either, but the narrative structure behind it rescues it from the clutches of true disappointment.
Bramble: The Mountain King is a fascinating adventure. Each character you meet on your Nordic expedition is wonderfully designed and will instantly capture your imagination. Even though the movement is a little rigid and the game is extremely linear, it manages to deliver a unique experience that will fester in your psyche.
There's a lot to like about Bramble: The Mountain King. Through its narration and fantastical environments, Dimfrost Studio does a great job at making you feel like you're taking part in an unsettling, if a little too long, fable laden with mythological creatures. The game's puzzle-platforming segments do nothing extraordinary, yet strike a nice balance between simplicity and challenge, and though the set camera and cumbersome movement can often get in the way, frequent checkpoints alleviate much of the frustration. However, depending on how much performance issues annoy you – stuttering, pop-in, frame rate drops – this is an adventure that might be best played elsewhere.
I think I've rarely been so clear that a game in which gameplay is not its main attraction, manages to be a real game. The way in which Dimfrost Studio manages to make you feel inside a fable with dark touches is brilliant. From the artistic design to the short puzzles designed to let you move fast are well measured.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Bramble: The Mountain King is worth a single playthrough, but the lack of any real depth to its gameplay makes it a difficult recommendation to those that might not be drawn in by its gorgeous visuals and atmosphere.
The horror adventure game, Bramble: The Mountain King, effectively contrasts terrifying imagery with the pastoral scenery of its Nordic setting. Horror isn't generally my thing, but the compelling story and captivating music were more than enough to carry me through this dark tale.
Bramble: The Mountain King combines elements of an under-explored culture in games to create a great fantasy and horror experience. It's a game that's definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Bramble: The Mountain King is a superb story driven adventure with solid gameplay and astonishing atmosphere that switches its tempo continually, emphasizing on the fact that even through the darkest of times, there is still hope for light at the end, although it may come with a price.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Grim and engaging 3D adventure
Sometimes manipulative, sometimes incoherent, this work still has the powerful power of folklore.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Bramble: The Mountain King is one the most delightful surprises of 2023. while getting inspiration from other Survival / Adventure games, Bramble: The Mountain King has its own unique identity. if you're looking for a unique, entertaining Survival experience with Adventure and Platforming Elements, give it a try.
Review in Persian | Read full review
If you're not put off by heavy themes, I couldn't suggest this title more; Bramble: The Mountain King is one of the few titles of this genre I wish I had played sooner.
Bramble: The Mountain King finds ways to excel throughout the ~6-hour adventure. With superb audio design and some really satisfying and engaging storytelling centred around Nordic folklore, the game showcases glimpses of greatness and refuses to hold back from depicting the horrifying and grim world around you. It's a shame that every new enemy's introduction and build-up is undermined by the inevitable average boss fight. It's true there's obvious room for improvement with Bramble's gameplay, though the overall experience is certainly still worth uncovering, especially as the game goes from strength to strength with some seriously impactful core moments.
Bramble: The Mountain King is a beautiful, charming and disturbing interactive dark fairy tale that is undone slightly by some dated gameplay moments.
A focused horror adventure with mature themes and cursed imagery, Bramble: The Mountain King is a hidden gem that will irrevocably leave a mark on some people. Inevitably all decisions carry their weight and change oneself, and Olle’s chilling journey must be witnessed by all who are interested in an epic, suspenseful tale.