Princess of the Water Lilies
Critic Reviews for Princess of the Water Lilies
Princess of the Water Lilies is beautifully crafted to become a lovely first choice for a platformer game. With intuitive controls, lovely art, and a clear, compelling story told without dialogue, it’s a small treasure of a game that will welcome both new players and gamers who love puzzles but struggle with platformers. The music and sound effects are equally lovely, coming together in a game that’s just really nicely put together all around. I may be bad at this game, but it doesn’t make me feel bad for that fact, and I found it encouraging to keep trying again.
If you are craving a cute and whimsical fairytale to play, I urge you to give Princess of the Lillies a chance. Aside from the frustration of the difficulty spike and screen movement, I loved this storybook adventure. I really feel that developer Whyknot has created something really special here, and I am eager to see what they might create in the future!
The hand-drawn visuals are the heart of the game. The environments shift between fiery forests, cool moonlit woods, and floating cliffs, each with its own mood. Nothing is overcrowded or noisy. Shapes and colours guide you through the world. The style reminded me of Ori’s gentle glow and Hollow Knight’s calm moments, mixed with the nostalgic charm of early Studio Ghibli films. The magical collar/purr effects are lovely too — plants blooming, fish deflating, dandelions lifting you into the air… Every change feels part of a natural, enchanted world.
