A small man casting an enormous shadow has by no means been extra related within the online game business nowadays, because it’s no secret that indie video games and the groups behind them are at present having an enormous second. With so many memorable indie gems dropped in our laps previously 12 months or two alone, it is left gamers like myself insatiable for much more superb adventures from all these under-the-radar builders who’re wielding essentially the most magic.
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That enchantment inevitably introduced me to Kejora, the debut IP of Indonesian developer Berangin Artistic. It is a charming undertaking years within the making that lastly touched down in early 2026 after a handful of delays (together with one doubtless because of Hole Knight: Silksong’s atomic-level launch). This beautifully-drawn, side-scrolling puzzle platformer drew me in with not solely its creative, Ghibli-inspired fashion, but additionally its story that assures that there is extra to this distant village than meets the attention.
After spending high quality time within the footwear of younger Kejora and her companions all through their twist-filled journey, I discovered myself wholeheartedly appreciating what the creatives at Berangin Artistic have achieved. That stated, there are some facets that would use but extra sharpening, and I discovered myself craving for extra depth to Kejora’s world and all of the supernatural parts at play all through the story.
Kejora is a short-and-sweet journey that will not essentially enchantment to each indie fan, particularly those that search extra progressive gameplay parts, however it undeniably nonetheless radiates with ambition and risk, and proves that this studio has that particular magic up their sleeve.
Charming Hand-drawn Animation Left Me Wanting Extra
It is arduous to argue that one of many greatest parts of Kejora that drew me in was its hand-drawn animation and intricately painted backdrops. That feat alone is enthusiastically commendable, because the sheer quantity of expertise, time, and dedication it takes to fairly actually hand-craft a whole online game is outstanding on each stage.
That is additionally particularly what makes it so tough for me to critique that side of this recreation as, on the entire, that is the place Kejora really shines. Nonetheless, I can not deny that I discovered myself maybe selfishly wishing that there could possibly be much more to that craft.
The customized animations of little Kejora and people round her do remarkably effectively to meaningfully convey each goal and emotional data the place we in any other case do not get it with voiced dialogue. Nonetheless, the animations themselves generally really feel a bit too short-lived or static to actually seize the gravitas of the sport’s heavier moments. I could not assist however want that sure scenes performed out extra completely, or that Kejora and her mates had extra number of animated expression, given their massive personalities.
Kejora is a short-and-sweet journey that will not essentially enchantment to each indie fan, particularly those that search extra progressive gameplay parts, however it undeniably nonetheless radiates with ambition and risk…
Finally, it makes the expertise really feel extra like a transferring image guide, which works in some methods however not a lot others.
Sound Can Inform as A lot Story (The place Is It?)
One particularly necessary storytelling factor that appeared surprisingly lackluster in an in any other case stunning recreation was audible atmosphere. Whereas most of the settings within the recreation are visually beautiful, sadly, there is a noticeable lack of sound results. There’s the pitter-patter of Kejora’s footsteps, the muted stomps of the shadowy monsters within the forest, or the temporary scrape of objects when her mates use their push or punch mechanics.
Nonetheless, this minimal use of sound results is simply not adequate sufficient when the expertise takes you thru numerous distinctive, usually vibrant areas stuffed with aesthetic particulars and, moreover, when the hand-drawn animation employed is pretty restricted and voice performing is totally absent.
Sound is an extremely highly effective and versatile software that may assist a gaming expertise come full circle when sure, higher-end parts (like paid voice actors) are realistically out of attain, or just not a part of the imaginative and prescient.
As a substitute, Kejora’s village and the forests surrounding it really feel audibly muted. No birds chirping, no speeding waters or gusts of wind, or background chatter of her neighbors. When the story progresses into its extra supernatural settings, these really feel much more muted, which inevitably takes a few of the weight away from the story’s most necessary moments. The brief music tracks that play all through the sport are pressured to bridge that hole a lot of the time, and it simply is not sufficient.
Character Mechanics Nonetheless Want Polish
Kejora’s journey to avoid wasting her village is shared along with her two closest mates, Jaka and Guntur. Alongside the way in which, they assist present completely different means to beat bodily obstacles and put collectively traps for enemies. Nonetheless, relatively than having every character carry out these actions on their very own, Kejora serves because the catalyst for each mechanic.
To be extra particular, if Kejora wants a lift from Jaka to get to a better ledge, you first need to place Kejora within the right spot for the increase, then press a button to convey up a mini-menu that means that you can briefly “swap” to Jaka and primarily teleport him to Kejora’s spot for the motion.
Slightly than assist you to totally swap to a personality and achieve management of their motion, even when simply to maneuver round, it is a considerably awkward teleport mini-game that is very a lot trial and error. Typically it takes a couple of tries to get one of many characters to really carry out their designated motion, which makes development by means of areas really feel a bit haggard at instances.
The sport additionally options stealth sections, significantly the place it’s important to evade the mysterious shadowy monsters lurking in a single space or one other. It really works effectively sufficient for essentially the most half, however relating to using stealth mechanics in a two-dimensional side-scroller setting, offering gamers with dependable cues for the place security is and an comprehensible hostility meter for the enemy being averted is pivotal.
Fortunately, these sections have been saved easy sufficient to the place intricate cues weren’t essentially wanted, so it is extra of a private nitpick than something.
The place the Sport Saves is Anybody’s Guess
One different explicit UI-related problem I discovered whereas enjoying is that you do not precisely know when and the place the sport saves. As of this writing, there is no guide save possibility obtainable for gamers to make use of, or any in-game save factors. It appears to work totally on an auto-save system, which is okay although not at all times perfect.
Nonetheless, what makes it really complicated on this occasion is that there is no auto-save notification in any respect that helps inform the participant when their progress is definitely saved (which appears to be on the finish and/or starting of every act within the story, and sometimes checkpoints). Historically, upon booting up, a recreation will present a discover of how its auto-save system works, and an animated icon that serves as its notification for at any time when an auto-save happens.
That is not the case with this recreation, and no auto-save icons are ever seen, even when one act within the story ends and the subsequent one begins. It creates a way of fixed unease about the place you may pause the sport, as life will inevitably make you try this, and I used to be initially nervous to check the place saves truly occurred.
Once more, that is one thing that may be mounted in a future replace, however such a easy UI oversight like that actually should not occur within the first place.
A Darkness Each Supernatural and Unbearably Human
Regardless of shortcomings with its gameplay, Kejora’s different robust level is available in its story. It begins virtually deceivingly on the whimsical facet, with Kejora residing fortunately in her village surrounded by caring neighbors, mates, and her mom. Nonetheless, the cracks begin to type quickly sufficient, as Kejora’s mom is sick with an unnamed sickness and must journey to a close-by metropolis hospital the subsequent day for remedy.
Because the day passes and midnight peaks over the village, a mysterious clock rewinds time all the way in which again to the earlier morning you simply skilled. The day transpires in a lot the identical approach, leaving Kejora and the opposite villagers none the wiser however the participant with sure unease. This prevalence belies a supernatural curse that has taken maintain of the village and trapped it in a endless time loop for an extended, very long time.
Regardless of shortcomings with its gameplay, Kejora’s different robust level is available in its story.
As Kejora and her mates work to unravel this curse and its supply, their journey takes them to some otherworldly locations and manifestations of surprisingly darkish themes that add much more depth to the story as a complete. A darkness that does not simply stem from the curse’s machinations, however from the darkish influences of humanity’s worst sides. On that entrance, I virtually could not assist however really feel that the studio’s Ghibli inspiration not solely feeds into the sport’s animation, however its storytelling parts as effectively.
Kejora is a completely charming and impressive indie platformer journey that has all the mandatory narrative bones for a visually compelling expertise. By way of story, it largely hits the mark. Nonetheless, the shortfalls in its awkward gameplay, lackluster sound design, and noticeable UI blips stagger that have to a level, and it in all probability might have used extra time within the oven on these fronts. Nonetheless, in the event you’re a fan of hand-drawn animation in video games, particularly of the Ghibli selection, I might say to present it the possibility it deserves.
- Launched
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January 7, 2026
- Developer(s)
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Berangin Artistic
- Writer(s)
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Comfortable Supply
- PC Launch Date
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January 7, 2026
- Impressively compelling story
- Hand-drawn animation all through the sport
- Lack of a dependable save function
- Not sufficient sound design
- Awkward character mechanics
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